> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://uoj.news/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Ukrainian Court Partially Upholds DESS Claim Against UOC Eparchy
- URL: https://uoj.news/news/ukrainian-court-partially-upholds-dess-claim-against-uoc-eparchy/
- Published: 2026-10-23T14:46:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T14:46:00.000Z
- Description: A Kyiv appeals court approved the liquidation of the Rovenkiv Eparchy’s administration but rejected DESS’s request to confiscate its assets, citing gaps in Ukrainian law.
- Author: Tobias Straney
- Tags: #Category: News, Ukraine Schism, State Service of Ukraine for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience, UOC, Church and State

**KYIV —** The Sixth Administrative Court of Appeal of Kyiv has [partially upheld](https://dess.gov.ua/oholoshennia-pro-zavershennia-rozghliadu-spravy-shliakhom-ukhvalennia-rishennia/) a claim by Ukraine’s State Service for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience (DESS) seeking the liquidation of the administration of the Rovenkiv Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC).

In its lawsuit, DESS sought both the termination of the religious organization’s activities and the transfer of its funds, assets, and property to the state, with an exception for religious property. However, the court declined to authorize the confiscation of the diocese’s property and funds, citing a gap in Ukrainian legislation.

[![](https://uoj.news/content/images/2026/09/dess-seeks-to-liquidate-uoc-rovenky-eparchy-in-court.jpg)On this topicDESS Seeks to Liquidate UOC Rovenky Eparchy in Court](https://uoj.news/news/dess-seeks-to-liquidate-uoc-rovenky-eparchy-in-court/)

According to the published decision, Ukrainian law does not establish a clear procedure for confiscating property or specify the responsibilities of a liquidation commission when a religious organization is dissolved through judicial proceedings. The court stated that the judiciary cannot assume the role of the legislature by independently creating procedures that lawmakers have not established.

The ruling therefore partially satisfied the government agency’s claim, granting its request to liquidate the eparchy’s administration while refusing the requested seizure of assets. As reported by [UOJ-Ukraine](https://spzh.eu/ua/news/96632-sud-zadovolniv-pozov-dess-pro-likvidatsiju-rovenkivskoji-jeparkhiji-upts.html), the decision highlights the legal questions surrounding the disposition of religious organizations’ property following court-ordered liquidation.

Previously, the [UOJ reported](https://uoj.news/news/ukrainian-authorities-designate-zaporizhzhia-eparchy-affiliated-with-roc/) that Ukrainian authorities designated the Zaporizhzhia Eparchy as affiliated with the Russian Orthodox Church.