RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
The State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience (DESS) announced that the appeal hearing for case No. 855/2/26 regarding the Koretsky Holy Trinity Monastery of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) is scheduled for November 10, 2026. The hearing will take place at the Cassation Administrative Court within the Supreme Court. DESS seeks the liquidation of the monastery, located in the Rivne region, citing its affiliation with the Russian Orthodox Church, which is banned in Ukraine. This decision follows a previous withdrawal of the lawsuit by the Sixth Appellate Administrative Court on November 24, 2025, due to procedural issues. The monastery manages over four hectares of land and five cultural heritage buildings.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
Religion scholar Oksana Gorkusha told the Apostrof TV channel that Russia is using religious symbols to legitimize its war against Ukraine. She argues that the recent announcement regarding the relics of Dmitry Donskoy is an associative link to the Donbas region, aiming to create a narrative of sacred rights. According to Gorkusha, this strategy, rooted in Patriarch Kirill’s writings, portrays Russian soldiers as divine instruments rather than occupiers. The expert claims the Russian Orthodox Church serves as a cover for state ideology, sacralizing modern war criminals to remove individual guilt and manipulate the public.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
The Northern Appellate Commercial Court in Ukraine rejected a further request by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate to postpone proceedings regarding the lease of Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra premises. The decision was made on September 29. The church's legal team cited new attorneys and a proposal to renew expired contracts as reasons for delay. However, the state reserve's lawyer argued these tactics only prolong the litigation. Activists gathered outside the courthouse, expressing opposition to the church. The court session faced disruptions, including a conflict between activists and a church supporter.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇷🇺 Russia·
Vatican Special Envoy Cardinal Angelo De Donatis is traveling to Moscow from September 27 to 30 to discuss the war in Ukraine. According to the outlet Agenzia Nova, the cardinal stated that his visit is part of a humanitarian mission authorized by Pope Francis and Pope Leo XIV. He aims to support efforts regarding children, prisoner exchanges, and civilian issues. The Vatican views requests from both Ukrainian and Russian sides as part of ongoing dialogue. This trip follows a previous visit by Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher and marks De Donatis's third journey to Russia since his mission began in 2023.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Culture, Tetiana Berezhna, announced that Kyiv will present Russia with bills for the destruction of cultural heritage. Speaking at the Carpathian Summit of the Eight, she stated that every damage is being documented to form the basis for future compensation claims. Data presented indicates over 2,100 damaged cultural heritage sites and more than 2,600 damaged cultural institutions. Additionally, Mikhail Brytsin of Eurasia Mission reported that at least 70 religious buildings were affected by Russian attacks between January and July 2026, with 61 damaged and nine completely destroyed.
Translated from Українська
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RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
Greek Catholic Church chaplains in Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine, conducted a training session for leaders of psychological support groups for military families. The event was reported by the Ukrainian Armed Forces Chaplaincy Service. Colonel Oleksandr Vovkotecha and Captain Rostyslav Vysochan attended to discuss future cooperation. The chaplaincy emphasizes that caring for soldiers' families is crucial for military resilience. They state that combining spiritual and psychological aid remains a key ministry focus during the ongoing war.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
Evangelical church leaders in Ukraine and Poland issued a joint statement on September 28, 2026, calling for an end to hatred and collective blame regarding historical disputes. According to RISU, the groups urge Christians to seek truth, forgiveness, and reconciliation rather than allowing past conflicts to damage current relations. The statement acknowledges both mutual support and tragedies in the shared history of the two nations. It emphasizes that responsibility for crimes should not be placed on entire peoples. The leaders cited Matthew 5:9 to promote peace, expressing condolences for victims while noting that historical narratives may differ.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
Henry Wilson-Smith of CAFOD, the Catholic charity in England and Wales, told Vatican News that the organization is assisting Ukraine in preparing for a harsh winter. He noted that years of Russian attacks on energy infrastructure have caused widespread power outages and displacement. CAFOD and partners like Caritas Ukraine are distributing heaters, power banks, and blankets to families in frontline areas. Wilson-Smith emphasized the resilience of Ukrainians and the importance of solidarity alongside material aid. The charity also supports housing repairs and psychological help, urging international support through prayer and practical assistance.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇫🇷 France·
Approximately 700,000 people gathered in Paris for an open-air Mass led by Pope Leo, according to RISU citing The Guardian. The event took place at Place de la Concorde, a site historically associated with the French Revolution. This marks the first official papal visit to France in 18 years. The pontiff, who is 71 years old, delivered a sermon emphasizing faith over material goods. Security measures were extensive, involving 14,500 personnel and closing central city areas. The service included thousands of clergy and bishops, with large screens broadcasting the proceedings to the massive crowd.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
A historic church in Kyiv, Ukraine, suffered significant damage following a Russian attack. The priest Valeriy Kravets reported that the building sustained broken windows, damaged walls, and ruined interior decorations. Icons, furniture, and church property were also affected by debris. The Cross-Bearing Church on Podil, constructed in the early 19th century, holds historical significance as the baptism site of writer Mikhail Bulgakov. This incident highlights the ongoing impact of the conflict on cultural and religious heritage sites in the Ukrainian capital.
Translated from Українська
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RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
Ukrainian dissident Myroslav Marynovych received the In Veritate award during a ceremony in Krakow, Poland, on September 25. The honor recognizes his long-standing human rights work and commitment to Polish-Ukrainian dialogue. Marynovych emphasized the need for mutual trust and warned against letting historical grievances dominate current relations. He highlighted the role of churches in reconciliation, citing past initiatives by Cardinal Lubomyr Huzar and Metropolitan Marian Jaworski. The award, named after Bishop Tadeusz Pieronek, is given for combining Christian and European values. Polish jurist Irena Lipowicz also received the prize this year.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has formally charged a former clergyman of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) with financing the Russian military. The suspect, who served in the Mykolaiv region before moving to Voronezh, Russia, in 2017, is accused of systematically sending military equipment, drones, and vehicles worth hundreds of millions of rubles to Russian forces after the full-scale invasion. According to the SBU, the individual also visited occupied territories to deliver aid convoys and used media to promote propaganda. He is now charged under Article 110-2 of Ukraine’s Criminal Code for actions aimed at changing Ukraine’s borders. Authorities are currently working to bring him to justice while he remains in Russia.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇵🇱 Poland·
Bishop Ziadko, head of the Migration Council of the Polish Episcopal Conference, warned against fueling hostility toward Ukrainians during a press conference in Warsaw on September 25. He stated that recent events have intensified aggression in social media, which contradicts Christian values. While acknowledging the tragedy in Jarosław, he argued that blaming an entire ethnic group for one person's actions is unjust. The bishop also emphasized that integration requires migrants to learn Polish and respect local laws, proposing mandatory free courses. He further highlighted the suffering of Ukrainian refugee children facing bullying and urged adults to stop the wave of hatred.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇸 United States·
Nearly 3,500 American evangelicals signed a letter delivered to the White House on September 23, urging the Trump administration to increase the refugee quota for Christians in fiscal year 2027. According to churchleaders.com, the appeal responds to plans to limit admissions to 17,500 people, with most spots reserved for South African Afrikaners. World Relief warns this approach leaves Christians fleeing religious persecution with few options. The group notes that 2026 could be the first year no refugees from the top 50 persecuted nations enter the US. Open Doors estimates 388 million Christians face global discrimination.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
Authorities in Ukraine fined organizers of a religious procession by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate in the Bukovina region. The event took place on September 24, involving approximately 2,000 pilgrims walking ten kilometers from Chernivtsi to the Boyany monastery. Police confirmed the organizers' identities and issued two administrative violation protocols due to the wartime ban on mass gatherings. The outlet ZAXID.NET reported that the fines were imposed under Article 185-1 of the Code of Administrative Offenses. This marks the latest in a series of penalties imposed on the Chernivtsi-Bukovina eparchy for organizing similar annual processions.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
The head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, Sviatoslav Shevchuk, stated that the situation in Oleshky resembles the famine of 1932–1933. In a video address marking the 241st week of the war, he described the town as being under an artificial blockade, with residents held as hostages and used as human shields. The World Council of Churches also issued a call to end the humanitarian blockade in the Kherson region. Religious leaders in Ukraine have urged the international community and the Pope to help save thousands of residents from starvation.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇫🇷 France·
Pope Leo XIV visited Saint-Denis, a suburb of Paris, France, on September 25 to meet with young people. According to RISU, the event drew over 80,000 registrations in a single day, including Catholics, Muslims, Jews, and agnostics. The gathering aimed to counter Russian propaganda claiming that Western youth have lost their Christian heritage. The article notes that the high turnout demonstrates continued interest in faith and community among French youth, despite the area's reputation for unemployment and safety issues. The visit served as a factual rebuttal to narratives about the decline of Western spirituality.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
According to the Information and Educational Department of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, a Russian strike damaged an Orthodox church in the Odesa region on September 26. The blast wave shattered windows, damaged doors, and harmed the interior of the sanctuary. Adjacent structures, including a Sunday school building and a priest's residence, were also affected, along with religious icons inside. The group reports that no people were injured in the attack. The local congregation has called for prayers for peace and an end to the violence.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇵🇱 Poland·
A district court in Jarosław, Poland, ordered that the Ukrainian man accused of attacking a Benedictine monastery be held in a hospital for three months due to his mental health. The decision was made on September 26 after prosecutors requested temporary detention. Court officials stated the suspect, identified as Igor M., was not brought to the courtroom because of his health condition. Psychiatrists diagnosed him with acute polymorphic psychotic disorders, preventing him from participating in interrogations. He faces charges including murder and attempted murder, which could result in life imprisonment. The attack occurred on September 24, resulting in the death of a priest and injuries to others.
Translated from Українська
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