Court of Appeal rules transfer of Trinity Church in Kremenchuk to OCU lawful

The Holy Trinity Church in Kremenchuk, around which the dispute over the legality of its transfer to the OCU continues. Photo: Kremenchuk Telegraph

On December 9, 2025, the Eastern Commercial Court of Appeal reviewed the complaint filed by Metropolitan Mykola (Kapustin) of Kremenchuk and Lubny against the decision of the Poltava Regional Commercial Court regarding the transfer of the Holy Trinity parish to the OCU and left it unsatisfied, Kremenchuk Telegraph reported.

According to lawyer Ruslan Lazorenko, the appellate court effectively confirmed the ruling of the first instance, refusing to consider the UOC’s arguments about the violations committed during the re-registration of the religious community. The UOC maintains that the transfer was carried out without the consent of the faithful and under pressure from local authorities.

Recall that the Kyiv Commercial Court returned Kapustin’s lawsuit due to jurisdictional issues, yet the proceedings surrounding the Holy Trinity Church have been accompanied by systematic attempts to push UOC cases outside the legal framework. In the autumn, city authorities began dismantling the fence around the church despite protests by believers, who warned that this threatened the property rights of the community.

In addition, judicial bodies have repeatedly ignored the UOC’s statements regarding abuses of procedural rights by representatives of the OCU and local officials. In June, the court also ruled the transfer of the Holy Trinity parish lawful, provoking outrage among parishioners who viewed the decision as illegal and unjust.

The problem of church re-registrations in Kremenchuk remains acute: last year both the Assumption Cathedral and the Holy Trinity Church were re-registered simultaneously, leading to conflicts among believers, restrictions on the UOC community’s access to church property, and prolonged legal battles.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that the court case on banning the Kyiv Metropolia had been postponed indefinitely.

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