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.
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.
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.
Ukrainians help restore Serbian Orthodox church in Paris
Orthodox Ukrainians have become regular parishioners of St. Sava Church in Paris and have taken part in its restoration.