In Kovel, TRC officers detain a UOC priest and father of four
Archpriest Vitalii Popko. Photo: kaplichka.com
On October 16, 2025, officers of the Lutsk Territorial Recruitment Center (TRC) detained Archpriest Vitalii Popko, a cleric of the UOC Church of the Pochaiv Icon of the Mother of God in Kovel, Volyn region, near his home. The parish website reported the incident.
Father Vitalii has four underage children in his care – two biological and two adopted orphans. He possesses all properly issued documents entitling him to a deferment from mobilization.
According to the parish community, despite this, the priest is currently being held in a distribution center and is being prepared for dispatch to a military training ground.
“We ask for prayers for Archpriest Vitalii Popko,” the message reads.
As the UOJ previously reported, on October 16 a TRC unit in Kyiv detained a UOC protodeacon.
Read also
Three OCU parishes in Prykarpattia decide to celebrate Nativity on January 7
In the Ivano-Frankivsk region, three parishes of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine have decided to celebrate the Nativity of Christ according to the old calendar.
OCU seizes UOC's Kazan Church in Chyhyryn
Raiders broke into the church by cutting off the locks with an angle grinder.
Performer of world-famous Christmas song dies aged 74
British singer Chris Rea has died at the age of 74.
OCU alarmed that UOC may “steal Christmas” from children in Chernivtsi
An OCU cleric accused schools and teachers of a lack of patriotism for celebrating Christmas on January 7.
New altar consecrated at St. Nicholas Church of vlg. Bratslav
Metropolitan Serhiy led the consecration of the altar and the liturgy at the church of the Tulchyn Eparchy of the UOC.
Monastic tonsure performed at St. Nicholas Convent of Mukachevo
Metropolitan Theodore performed the tonsure of two nuns of the convent.