Baturyn authorities force St. Nicholas Monastery nuns out into the street

Police at St. Nicholas Monastery in Baturyn. Photo: UOJ

On January 27, 2026, the head of the National Historical and Cultural Preserve “Hetman’s Capital,” with the participation of police officers, unlawfully – without any court decision – forced the sisters of the Baturyn Krupytsky St. Nicholas Convent out onto the street. This was reported by UOC attorney Archpriest Nikita Chekman.

The nuns have no other housing besides the monastery cells, where they are officially registered as residents. Nevertheless, they were put out on the street, and the doors of the church and the residential building were sealed.

As the attorney notes, a premises-use agreement had been concluded between the monastery and the preserve, with its term set through January 27, 2026. However, for the period of martial law, under Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine No. 634 of May 27, 2022, the user (tenant) has the right to an automatic extension of the agreement. There are no court decisions whatsoever terminating the right of use or ordering eviction.

Accordingly, the attorney believes the actions of the preserve’s director and other involved persons show signs of criminal offenses, in particular:

Article 356 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine – arbitrariness (self-will);
Article 365 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine – abuse of power or official authority.

Fr. Nikita also presented photographs showing the monastery’s ruined condition when it was handed over to the UOC, and what it looks like now.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that police stormed the Kremenets Theological School and evicted the female students.

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