Court upholds “transfer” of UOC St. Nicholas Church in Vetly to OCU

St. Nicholas Church of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the village of Vetly. Photo: VSN.UA.

The Volyn Court of Appeal has upheld the lower court’s ruling transferring St. Nicholas Church of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the village of Vetly for use by an OCU community, according to Volyn News Service.

The court ruling effectively brings a long-running dispute over the church to a legal conclusion. The decision, issued in March 2026, states that the actions of UOC rector Archpriest Stanislav Skupeiko allegedly obstructed the use of the church. The court ordered that these obstacles be removed, access to the building be ensured, and the keys be handed over to representatives of the OCU.

According to OCU “priest” Roman Hula, the ruling was the outcome of a prolonged standoff. “It was a long road, but we have seen that despite the difficulties, God does not abandon us,” he said.

The conflict over the church has continued since 2022, when part of the village backed a transfer to the OCU. After that, UOC supporters together with the rector retained control of the church, asserting their rights to the shrine. During that time, services were held outside the church building, while the situation was marked by confrontation and various incidents.

Yuliia Spyryna, legal counsel for the OCU diocese, said that documents have already been prepared to open enforcement proceedings. If the court ruling is not carried out, access to the church will, in her words, be secured with the involvement of state enforcement officers and police.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that in Zaporizhzhia, authorities forced a UOC community out of a hospital church.

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