TRC detains UOC priest in Khmelnytskyi region

Archpriest Andriy Chornyi, abducted by the TRC. Photo: Facebook page of the Khmelnytskyi Eparchy

On June 4, 2026, police officers detained Archpriest Andriy Chornyi, a cleric of the Khmelnytskyi Eparchy of the UOC. Law enforcement officers stopped the vehicle in which the priest was traveling and forcibly took him to the third department of the Khmelnytskyi District Territorial Recruitment Center, the eparchy reported on Facebook.

Archpriest Andriy Chornyi has served for many years as rector of the Church of the Holy Unmercenaries Cosmas and Damian in the village of Lysohirka. According to the eparchy, the priest has serious health issues and a number of related illnesses.

Despite his medical condition, TRC representatives conducted a military medical commission and took the cleric from Khmelnytskyi in an unknown direction. At present, there is no contact with Father Andriy.

The eparchial leadership called on clergy and faithful to intensify their prayers for the detained pastor. Church representatives appealed to people of goodwill to help secure the release of the priest, who has carried out pastoral ministry in his parish for several decades.

As previously reported by the UOJ, Congresswoman Luna stated that the mobilization of UOC priests is illegal.

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