Attorney: Raider seizure of UOC Ascension Church in Kyiv being prepared

Ascension Church in Kyiv. Photo: Facebook page of the UOC parish

UOC attorney Archpriest Nikita Chekman reported an attempt to unlawfully seize the UOC’s Ascension Church in Kyiv through forged documents, according to the Information and Education Department of the UOC.

According to the lawyer, the situation is unfolding under the so-called “black registration” scheme. On February 24, 2026, individuals applied to the Kyiv City State Administration to change the community’s registration data. Registrar Oleh Shepel initially refused, but on March 31 unlawfully replaced Rector Archpriest Pavlo Kyrylov with Taras Pikus.

Chekman said the move was based on a falsified protocol of a meeting dated February 15, 2026. According to the attorney, the actual parish members and the rector neither convened that meeting nor took part in it.

The UOC also stressed that, under the religious organization’s current statute, the appointment and dismissal of a rector fall exclusively within the competence of the eparchial bishop and cannot be carried out by decisions of parish meetings.

On April 8, the religious community held a lawful meeting at which it declared the disputed protocol invalid, confirmed Archpriest Pavlo Kyrylov’s authority, and revoked all documents submitted on behalf of the parish by outside individuals.

Documents for registering the new version of the statute are currently under consideration by the Kyiv City Military Administration. In connection with this, the defense is preparing lawsuits and calling on city authorities not to make decisions based on disputed documents until the legal assessment of the situation is completed.

As previously reported by the UOJ, OCU supporters are attempting to seize Trinity Cathedral in Kremenchuk.

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