Court in Rivne region fines man over posts about OCU
Supreme Court of Ukraine. Photo: i-ua
On April 28, 2026, the Volodymyrets district court in Rivne region fined a local resident over Facebook posts deemed to incite religious hatred, Rivne Vechirnie reported.
According to case materials, from October 2025 to January 2026, Dmytro Kovalchuk shared posts on his page containing offensive remarks about OCU believers, as well as claims about the “exceptionality” of the UOC.
During the pre-trial investigation, law enforcement officers seized the man’s mobile phone, which had been used to publish the content. The defendant pleaded guilty and explained that he had been expressing his own religious beliefs.
The court found him guilty under Part 1 of Article 161 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine – incitement of religious hatred – and imposed a fine of UAH 3,400.
The ruling may be appealed.
As previously reported by the UOJ, the Supreme Court opened appellate proceedings in the case of the UOC’s Korets Monastery.
Read also
Favor Foundation appeals for donations to UOC charity canteens
The charity is raising UAH 180,000 to purchase food for seven UOC charity canteens in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Sumy, and Oleksandriia.
UOC volunteers deliver 30 tons of aid from Bukovyna to Sviatohirsk Lavra
Believers of the Chernivtsi and Bukovyna Eparchy of the UOC brought about 30 tons of humanitarian aid for the Sviatohirsk Lavra and residents of nearby villages.
Kyiv Theological Academy professor mobilized
Kyiv Theological Academy lecturer Serhiy Bortnyk, who was detained by the TRC in Kyiv, has been mobilized.
Kherson Eparchy receives another aid shipment from Dnipro
120 food packages, over a ton of vegetables and dairy products have been delivered from Dnipro to Kherson for parishioners and needy residents.
Supreme Court denies UOC open hearing on appeal against DESS
Judges decide to consider UOC appeal against DESS in written proceedings.
Pope holds phone call with Putin
Pope Leo XIV discussed the humanitarian situation in Oleshky with Vladimir Putin.