UOC Priest Detained by Military Officials En Route to Serve Liturgy in Ukraine

Archpriest Ioann Koval. Photo: Dcn. Dombrovskyi’s Facebook

SHUMSK — On the morning of June 22, 2025, Archpriest Ioann Koval of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church’s Ternopil Eparchy was detained by officers from the Territorial Recruitment Center (TRC) and local police in the town of Shumsk. The priest was reportedly on his way to serve the Divine Liturgy in the villages of Onyshkivtsi and Bolozhivka when he was intercepted around 7 a.m., according to a statement shared by a local deacon.

By mid-morning, Fr. Ioann became unreachable, and by 3 p.m., his phone was completely offline. His vehicle was later found parked near the local TRC office. Despite multiple inquiries, neither his relatives nor parishioners have received information regarding his status or location.

Parishioners are requesting continued prayers for their priest.

Previously, UOJ reported on a similar case in Kremenets, where TRC officers detained Archimandrite Paphnutiy, abbot of the Holy Spirit Skete in Pochaiv.

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