Luna: Ukrainian officials involved in church seizures to be held accountable

Anna Paulina Luna. Photo: X
On January 8, 2026, U.S. Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna stated in an exclusive comment to the UOJ in the USA that Ukrainian officials involved in the seizure of UOC churches will be held accountable. The reason was an appeal from UOC believers from the village of Kuzmyn in the Khmelnytskyi region.
Commenting on the situation, Anna Paulina Luna stated that all cases of forced church seizures are being documented, and officials involved in these actions will be included in a special list. “We are monitoring church seizures and compiling a list of officials involved in these illegal seizures. There will be consequences if the Nativity parish in Kuzmyn is seized from the faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church,” she emphasized.
The video appeal of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church believers, posted by Anna Paulina Luna on her account on the social network X, contains testimonies about the inability to protect their rights in their own country. “Ukrainian authorities do not allow us to pray, and forbid it, take away our churches, and leave us with no protection,” the parishioners' appeal states. The believers also emphasize: “We are ordinary, law-abiding Ukrainians who have no one left to turn to for protection.”
Earlier, the UOJ wrote that the American legislator stated that Zelensky is waging war against his people over faith.
Read also
MP urges to ease pressure on UOC for sake of peace
Oleksii Honcharenko proposed compromises on language, historical memory, and Church issues as part of efforts to achieve peace, saying those who wish to attend the “Russian Church” should be allowed to do so.
Court takes 17th-century church in Staryi Pochaiv from UOC community
A commercial court overturned a 2018 registrar’s decision and stripped the UOC’s Ternopil Eparchy of ownership of the 17th-century church.
Vinnytsia Eparchy honors Bar Icon of the Mother of God
Metropolitan Varsonofiy celebrated the Liturgy at the Bar Convent on the feast day of the wonderworking icon of the Mother of God.
Rada speaker discusses legalization of same-sex marriage in Rivne region
Ruslan Stefanchuk suggested that sponsors of separate bills to legalize same-sex marriage personally make their case to Ukrainians.
SBU told Phanar many UOC bishops would join OCU in 2018, report says
According to a Phanar representative’s account, Ukrainian security services told the Constantinople delegation that many UOC representatives were prepared to attend the OCU’s “Unification Council.” In the end, only two did.
Catholic cardinal visits Ukrainian POWs during trip to Russia
During three days of consultations in Moscow, Cardinal Matteo Zuppi discussed prospects for ending the war in Ukraine.