Ukrainian Government Reports Seizure of 37 UOC Churches: 'Not as Many as We Would Like'

CHERNIHIV — Since 2019, approximately 40 parishes in Ukraine’s Chernihiv region have transitioned from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), according to a report by the Chernihiv Regional State Administration (RSA) published by CheLine on August 7, 2025.

The RSA confirmed that 37 religious communities have completed the re-registration process, with all necessary documentation submitted, approved by the head of the RSA, and entered into the state register. Oleksiy Stepanenko, head of the Department for Nationalities and Religions, claimed that while the number of transitions may seem modest, the decision lies with the religious communities themselves. “Perhaps these transitions are not as numerous as we would like, but this is already a matter for the religious communities,” Stepanenko said.

Additionally, four more parishes have submitted documentation for re-registration, which is currently under review. Stepanenko indicated that these parishes are expected to be added to the state register within weeks, pending final approval.

The shift follows a broader trend in the region, with some communities citing geopolitical tensions as a factor. Earlier reports from the Union of Orthodox Journalists (UOJ) highlighted a case in Kyselivka, where a UOC cleric and his community joined the OCU, citing Russia’s ongoing war with Ukraine and the reported involvement of Russian Orthodox Church clerics in blessing ballistic missiles as reasons for the transition.

The re-registration of parishes reflects ongoing religious realignments in Ukraine amid cultural and political changes, with the Chernihiv RSA continuing to oversee the administrative process for these transitions.

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