DESS expert: Believers to oppose forced eviction of monks from Pochaiv Lavra
An expert from the State Service for Ethnopolitics (DESS) stated that if there is an attempt to forcibly evict the monastic brotherhood from the Pochaiv Lavra, the state will face resistance from believers.
On June 24, 2026, the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience began an inspection of the Pochaiv Lavra for possible affiliation with the Russian Orthodox Church. Against this backdrop, DESS expert Denys Koliada stated on Suspilne TV that, in the event of an attempt to forcibly evict monks from the monastery, the authorities may face resistance from believers.
According to Koliada, the inspection concerns not the liturgical life of the monastery or doctrinal matters, but exclusively the Lavra's canonical and legal ties. In particular, it involves examining the statute, administrative subordination, possible ROC influence over the appointment of the abbot, as well as the information policy conducted by the monastery.
The expert stated that the Pochaiv Lavra is state property, and the religious community merely uses its buildings under a lease agreement. According to him, if the lavra's affiliation with the Russian Orthodox Church, whose activities are banned in Ukraine, is proven, this could serve as grounds for terminating the lease agreement.
At the same time, Koliada acknowledged that the implementation of such a scenario could be accompanied by serious tension. Commenting on the possible consequences of depriving the monastery of the right to use the shrine, he expressed confidence that in Pochaiv, as previously at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, mass protests and resistance from believers are possible.
"I would not rush into any forceful methods for one reason: this could indeed lead to a certain split in society," the expert noted.
As the UOJ reported, 4,000 believers celebrated the patronal feast of the Holy Spirit Skete of the Pochaiv Lavra.
