St. Michael’s Church in Bezuhlivka Seized by OCU
A contested church in the Chernihiv region of Ukraine became the center of a heated and disputed takeover.
BEZUHLIIVKA, UKRAINE — The canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) parish of St. Michael’s Church in Bezuhlivka was reportedly seized on April 16, 2026, by representatives of the state-backed Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), according to the Dozor Kozak Telegram channel.
The report claims that individuals entered the historic church by cutting locks and declaring control over the property. It also alleges that the process leading to the transfer began months earlier, including disputed registration procedures and a vote in which, according to the channel, participants were not connected to the parish community. The church was officially re-registered on January 28, 2026.
Tensions surrounding the parish reportedly escalated in the months prior to the seizure. The Dozor Kozak channel reports that pressure was placed on the church’s rector, Fr. Yaroslav Sobolevskyi, including the spread of claims about his pastoral conduct. It further states that parishioners managed to remove sacred items before the takeover. On Pascha, OCU representatives reportedly held a blessing service outside the church, and later entered the building during Bright Week.
Previously, the UOJ reported that parishioners blocked a church seizure attempt in Moldova.
