MP urges Zelensky to help expel UOC from cathedral in Volodymyr

Huz in the Rada. Photo: Facebook of Huz

On October 8, 2025, MP Ihor Huz, speaking at a session of the Verkhovna Rada, called on President Zelensky to assist in the expulsion of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) from the Assumption Cathedral in Volodymyr, using insulting language toward the clergy.

“Moscow priests are not above the law! The state must enforce the court’s decision,” Huz declared, alleging that Metropolitan Volodymyr of Volodymyr-Volynsky and Kovel had “threatened” not to leave the cathedral.

“Now the issue is to throw out the Moscow priests from this holy place,” Huz said, urging Zelensky to help resolve the matter.

“I appeal to the president to give a clear order to law enforcement agencies, the executive service, and the military administration to calmly and lawfully return the property to the state,” the MP said – although his earlier expressions hardly suggested any intent to act “calmly.”

Huz also warned that if the state failed to implement the decision itself, “the community will do it,” effectively threatening vigilante action. He further expressed confidence that the Assumption Cathedral would be handed over to the OCU.

In another video posted to his Facebook page on October 9, Huz said he had spoken with Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Oleksiy Serhiyev about the situation with the Assumption Cathedral. “I expect that the actions of law enforcement will be swift, correct, and lawful, so that the state regains control over the Assumption Cathedral and the adjacent premises,” Huz stated.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that a hierarch of the UOC had appealed to the faithful amid the threat of a seizure of the cathedral in Volodymyr.

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