Court rules reregistration of UOC community in Kremenchuk illegal

The Dormition Cathedral in Kremenchuk. Photo: the community page on Facebook

On April 23, 2026, the Northern Commercial Court of Appeals protected the rights of believers of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the city of Kremenchuk, Poltava region. As reported by Archpriest Nikita Chekman on his Telegram channel, the court satisfied the appeal of the rector of the Holy Dormition religious community and overturned the first instance decision of September 15, 2025, in case No. 910/14325/24.

The judges declared invalid the protocol on changing affiliation, as well as canceled the new version of the OCU community statute. In addition, the court annulled the order of the regional state administration, on the basis of which officials conducted illegal re-registration of the parish. The court verdict came into legal force immediately.

"This is another important victory in defending the rights of our Church and a clear confirmation: illegal actions can and should be overturned through judicial proceedings," noted Archpriest Nikita Chekman. He also thanked the believers for their support and prayers.

The struggle for the Dormition Cathedral in Kremenchuk continued for a long time. Earlier, parishioners reported that OCU activists held a fictitious meeting outside the church, collecting signatures from only 26 people. At the same time, more than 200 regular parishioners of the cathedral officially declared their continued faithfulness to the canonical Church under the leadership of Metropolitan Onuphry.

In October 2024, raiders already attempted to seize the shrine, using angle grinders and crowbars. Then the police sealed the cathedral, depriving UOC believers of the opportunity to pray in their church. The UOC community also pointed to the deplorable state of the neighboring OCU church, which stands abandoned, while the UOC cathedral was always visited by hundreds of people.

Earlier, the UOJ wrote that the Radomyshl City Council wants to seize the St. Nicholas Cathedral of the UOC through court.

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