Priest's son of UOC Rivne Eparchy killed at the front

Dmytro Valentynovych Hodun. Photo: Rivne Eparchy

The Rivne Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church expressed condolences to the family of a priest in connection with the death of his soldier son, reports the press service of the Rivne Eparchy.

On July 24, 2026, the commander of a company of strike unmanned aerial vehicle systems, Junior Lieutenant Dmytro Valentynovych Hodun, a son of Archpriest Valentyn Hodun, a priest of the 1st Korets Deanery of the Rivne Diocese, was killed while defending Ukraine against Russian aggression, near the settlement of Mykolayivka in the Kramatorsk district, Donetsk region.

The clergy and faithful of the Rivne Eparchy expressed sincere condolences to Archpriest Valentyn Hodun and his family in connection with the irreplaceable loss. The eparchy's statement reads: "We express our sincere condolences to the family of Archpriest Valentyn Hodun on the death of his son, who gave his life defending the territorial integrity and independence of Ukraine from the Russian enemy."

The UOC prays that the Merciful Lord may grant rest to the soul of the newly-departed warrior Dmytro in the dwellings of the righteous, and bestow spiritual strength and consolation in grief upon his family and loved ones.

As the UOJ previously reported, a monk of the UOC Svitiaz Monastery perished  in the war.

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