Yarova authorities liquidate UOC community over priest's trial, media

The Kazan Church in Yarova. Photo: open sources

On September 15, 2026, a panel of judges of the Sixth Appellate Administrative Court ruled to terminate the activities of the religious Orthodox community of the "Kazan Icon of the Mother of God" parish of the Horlivka Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the village of Yarova, Lyman City Community, Donetsk region, reported LB.ua on September 16.

According to the outlet, the ruling was based on Security Service of Ukraine materials concerning the parish rector's involvement in collaborative activities. The case involves Archpriest Mykola Zirka, whom the Industrialnyi District Court of Dnipro found guilty of collaborationism and sentenced to seven years in prison with confiscation of property.

At the same time, the priest has not been at the parish for more than three years: in February 2023, he was handed over to Russia in a prisoner exchange.

The reasoning behind the ruling, as presented by LB.ua, amounts to the conclusion that the conviction of a representative of a religious organization is in itself grounds for the judicial termination of that organization's activities. Thus, the sentencing of one individual led to the liquidation of a community to which dozens and hundreds of believers belong.

The editor-in-chief of the outlet, Sonya Koshkina, described the court's decision in her Telegram channel as a precedent that "is a practical application of the legislation on religious organizations associated with the Russian Orthodox Church."

Koshkina did not specify which particular provision of the law allows an entire community to be liquidated on the basis of one priest's conviction. "They can, when they want to. Wonderful, very good," Koshkina wrote.

Yarova itself today barely exists as a settlement, with many buildings destroyed. The village was occupied in 2022, liberated in September of the same year, and has since remained in an active combat zone. In September 2026, the command of the 3rd Army Corps reported that the village had been cleared of the enemy during Operation "Vivaldi."

The Kazan church itself, as seen in the latest footage from Yarova, remains intact for now, but there is no information indicating that services can be held there.

Previously, the UOJ reported that Ukraine exchanged UOC priest Mykola Zirka for military personnel.

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