Rector’s sister killed in strike on UOC church in Vilniansk

St. Volodymyr Church in Vilniansk. Photo: Zaporizhzhia Eparchy

As a result of the strike on St. Volodymyr Church of the UOC in Vilniansk on May 4, 2026, Liudmyla, the sister of the rector, Archpriest Viacheslav Honcharenko, was killed. This was stated in an appeal by Metropolitan Luke of Zaporizhzhia and Melitopol, published on the website of the Zaporizhzhia Eparchy.

The hierarch said he arrived at the scene and saw the aftermath of the destruction. According to him, St. Volodymyr Church and the church buildings sustained significant damage, while civilians were killed and wounded.

“I sincerely share the grief of all those touched by this tragedy. I offer my heartfelt condolences to the residents of Vilniansk, the parishioners of the damaged church, and the families of the dead and injured. May the Lord strengthen them and grant them consolation in these difficult days,” the hierarch wrote.

According to the regional military administration, the strike on Vilniansk was carried out with a drone. Two people were killed: 62-year-old Liudmyla, the rector’s sister, and her 51-year-old husband, Hennadiy. The couple were internally displaced persons from Polohy and had been temporarily living on the church grounds.

Metropolitan Luke’s appeal also said their son, Vitaliy, was seriously wounded and is now in hospital.

According to the authorities, three more women, aged 32, 36, and 52, sought medical assistance. The fire following the strike covered about 120 square meters.

As the UOJ reported earlier, a church in Malokaterynivka, Zaporizhzhia region, was also damaged by shelling.

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