TRC releases UOC priest from Vilniansk after two days in detention

Archpriest Viacheslav Honcharenko. Photo: hramzp.ua
Employees of the Zaporizhzhia Territorial Recruitment Center (TRC) have released Archpriest Viacheslav Honcharenko, rector of St. Vladimir's Church of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Vilniansk, according to the Pershyi Kozatskyi Telegram channel.
According to the priest's relatives, Fr. Viacheslav was released on the evening of October 14 after two days of efforts to secure his freedom. His release was made possible through the work of lawyers and family members.
The archpriest's relatives noted that considerable legal work still lies ahead, along with updating his medical records at hospitals. They also thanked everyone who supported the priest and prayed for him.
As the UOJ previously reported, TRC employees had abducted the rector of the UOC church in Vilniansk.
Fr. Viacheslav leads the parish of a church that was severely damaged in a Russian attack in May 2026. Many local residents were injured in the strike, and the priest's own sister was killed.
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