UOC faithful defend their right to a church in Pryyutivka through the courts

Photo: Church in Pryyutivka. Source: Suspilne Kropyvnytskyi

Legal proceedings over the UOC's Church of the Great Martyr George in Pryyutivka, Kirovohrad region, have been ongoing for nearly two years. On May 27, 2023, an unlawful vote took place on a police-guarded bus behind closed doors, during which it was decided to “transfer” the parish to the OCU. Parishioners responded by filing a lawsuit. According to Suspilne, the Commercial Court initially dismissed the claim but reopened the case in June 2025.

Prior to these events, in September 2023, the Pryyutivka village council had decided to grant the land plot and church to the OCU for permanent use.

While cases regarding forged documents related to the church were still pending, a group of raiders in camouflage broke into the church property on August 31, 2024, cutting the locks. Fire extinguishers and pepper spray were used against the clergy and faithful.

After the failed forceful seizure, the OCU filed its own lawsuit against the UOC. The Kirovohrad Regional Commercial Court ruled in favor of the OCU on January 18, 2024. In response, the UOC appealed to the Central Commercial Court of Appeal in Dnipro, which refused to initiate appellate proceedings on October 17, 2024.

In turn, the Oleksandriia Eparchy filed a claim challenging the legality of the community’s “transfer” from the UOC to the OCU. Parishioners sought to overturn the decision of a meeting that voted on the transfer without the consent of the actual religious community. The Kirovohrad Regional Commercial Court rejected the claim on August 26, 2024.

The UOC appealed this ruling as well, but once again the Central Commercial Court of Appeal in Dnipro rejected the appeal and upheld the decision of the lower court, as stated in a ruling dated May 27, 2025.

According to Suspilne, the Commercial Court will once again examine the legality of the religious community’s “transfer” from the UOC to the OCU – this time based on a lawsuit filed by a resident of the village. A court order dated June 25, 2025, sets the preliminary hearing for July 24.

Meanwhile, the OCU has filed a new lawsuit with the Kirovohrad Regional Commercial Court, seeking to resume proceedings on “obstruction of use of the land plot.” On January 18, 2024, the court had partially satisfied a similar claim. A hearing is scheduled for August 6.

As previously reported by the UOJ, the Greek church news outlet Romfea commented on the summons issued to Metropolitan Boholep of Oleksandriia, calling it part of a broader campaign of persecution launched by Ukrainian authorities against the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

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