UOC Priest Detained on Way to Service in Kamianske Eparchy

KAMIANSKE, UKRAINE — As first reported by UOJ-Ukraine, Archpriest Mykhailo Bilokin, rector of the Church of the Holy Martyrs Boris and Gleb in Radisne, was detained by Territorial Recruitment Center (TRC) officers on September 6 while traveling to a church service, according to his relatives. His current whereabouts were unknown when they contacted the UOJ.

The priest was reportedly driving from his home in Kamianske to Radisne, located about 15 kilometers away, when he entered the yard of a local resident at approximately 8 a.m. A vehicle carrying TRC officers allegedly arrived behind him and blocked his car. According to relatives, the officers then removed Fr. Mykhailo from the vehicle and took him away.

Relatives said the priest was initially transported to a hospital on Panikakhy Street in Dnipro before being transferred to the regional military enlistment office on Schmidt Street. His family was unable to contact him afterward, and his son reportedly made repeated calls to his phone without receiving an answer.

Fr. Mykhailo was ordained to the priesthood in 1992 and is 55 years old. His relatives appealed to UOJ-Ukraine after losing contact with him and said they did not know where he was being held or what would happen next.

Previously, the UOJ reported that the TRC detained the protodeacon of Neshcheriv Monastery.