UOC Priest Released After Being Detained Near His Home

Archpriest Vitaliy Popko. Photo: Volodymyr-Volyn Eparchy

KOVEL — On Oct. 17, 2025, Archpriest Vitaliy Popko was returned to his family after being illegally detained near his home the day before.

Fr. Vitaliy is a cleric of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), serving at the Pochaiv Icon of the Mother of God Church in Kovel, Volyn region. He has four underage children in his care – two biological and two adopted orphans.

Despite possessing all the necessary documents that entitle him to deferment from military mobilization, he was still detained near his home by the Lutsk Territorial Recruitment Center (TRC) on Oct. 16, 2025. He was held in a distribution center that was being prepared for dispatch to a military training ground.

"We ask for prayers for Archpriest Vitaliy Popko," his parish community shared at the time.

A day later, the diocese shared that Fr. Vitality had been released due to "widespread media and social media attention, and most importantly, to your heartfelt prayers and concern."

The priest thanked everyone who had prayed for him, and the diocese added that "the truth prevailed" and that Fr. Vitaliy will continue to pray for the people of Ukraine.

Previously, UOJ reported that United Nations experts had warned the Ukrainian government and expressed serious concern at reports of ongoing persecution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

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