Russian Drone Strike Kills Archpriest Heorhiy Horbenko

Archpriest Heorhiy Horbenko. Photo: /uoc-news.church

KHERSON, UKRAINE — On January 5, 2026, Archpriest Heorhiy Horbenko, rector of the Protection (Pokrovsky) Church in the village of Orlove, Kherson region, was killed in a Russian drone strike, the Information and Educational Department of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church reported, citing the eparchy’s press service.

Born on February 10, 1961, in Kherson, Archpriest Horbenko began his service at the Ekaterina Cathedral in 1995 as a sexton. He was ordained a deacon on March 7, 1998, and a priest on April 26, 1998, by Bishop Iov of Kherson and Tavria. He later served as rector of the Protection Church in Velyka Kardashynka and the Church of the Kazan Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos in Zavodovka.

In 2007, he received a pectoral cross from Abp. Ioann of Kherson and Tavria. In 2020, he was appointed rector of the Orlove parish and elevated to archpriest.

The Kherson Eparchy expressed condolences to his family and called for prayers for the late priest.

Previously, the UOJ reported on UOC parishioners demanding answers regarding their priest's forced mobilization in Ukraine. 

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