TRC officers abduct UOC priest in Khmelnytskyi

Archpriest Maksym Moskalchuk. Photo: Khmelnytskyi Eparchy

Representatives of the TCC have taken and are unlawfully holding a cleric of the Khmelnytskyi Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church – the rector of the Intercession Church in the village of Redvyntsi (Khmelnytskyi district), Archpriest Maksym Moskalchuk. The eparchy’s press service reported this.

According to the report, the priest was unlawfully detained on Wednesday morning, January 28, 2026, while on his way to work. His phone was forcibly taken from him, and against his will he was transported to the Khmelnytskyi City TRC.

“Under international law and conventions, a clergyman cannot be conscripted into the army – and all the more he has no right to take up arms. This is not only a violation of human rights, but also a blatant disregard for the spiritual mission a pastor bears,” the eparchy emphasized.

The press service notes that Archpriest Maksym agreed to enter the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, but refused to take a weapon in his hands.

After that, the UOC cleric was put on a bus and taken away in an unknown direction. There has been no contact with him.

“We ask you to share this information. Support Fr. Maksym – by word, by deed, by prayer,” the statement says.

As the UOJ previously reported, TRC officers earlier detained a priest of the Chernivtsi Eparchy.

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