RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
According to the Zakarpattia Regional Prosecutor's Office, a 45-year-old priest of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate was arrested after shooting at pedestrians in Vyshkovo, Zakarpattia region, Ukraine, on October 15. The incident resulted in the deaths of two local residents aged 62 and 64, while three others were hospitalized with injuries. Police launched a special operation named 'Thunder' to locate the armed suspect. Criminal proceedings are underway for intentional murder and attempted murder under Ukrainian law.
Translated from УкраїнськаAlso reported by 2 outlets
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) arrested a woman in Kyiv for publishing approximately 100,000 posts on a Telegram channel between 2025 and 2026. According to the SBU press service, the suspect, a displaced person from Sievierodonetsk, incited violence against Ukrainians, political figures, and Jews, and called for synagogue attacks. Investigators seized her mobile phone as evidence. She has been charged under articles concerning the violent overthrow of the constitutional order and racial or religious discrimination. A court ordered her detention with the option of bail.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
Leaders of the ecumenical commissions of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) met in Ukraine to discuss the challenges of ministry during the ongoing war. According to the UGCC Information Department, the event began with a joint Liturgy, followed by two days of working discussions and experience sharing among diocesan commissions. Participants addressed interchurch cooperation in various regions of Ukraine and abroad, considering factors such as proximity to the front, occupation experience, and forced displacement. The organizers stated that the annual meeting highlighted the need for attentiveness to the social situation and willingness to cooperate to uphold human dignity. This exchange helps understand local needs and find appropriate approaches for communities with different historical and religious backgrounds.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
Economists of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) in Krakow, Poland, expressed gratitude to Cardinal Gzhegosh Rysz for his support of Ukrainians since the full-scale Russian invasion. The meeting took place from October 9 to 15 during a training session organized by Caritas Krakow. Patriarchal economist Father Lyubomyr Yavorsky specifically acknowledged aid provided to residents of Kyiv region last winter, including generators and humanitarian supplies. In return, the Ukrainian delegation gifted the Cardinal a rosary containing soil from Ukraine. The group also prayed for peace in Ukraine and received signed copies of his books translated into Ukrainian.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
A Russian Orthodox Church official, identified as Leonid, criticized Metropolitan Onufriy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) for describing the conflict as Russian aggression. According to the outlet RISU, Leonid cited Onufriy’s thanks to Ukrainian soldiers and accused Ukrainian authorities of being Nazis who started the war. He also noted failed attempts by church leaders to meet President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Leonid suggested the church has already chosen its path, favoring bishops under investigation. He expressed interest in the Russian Church’s stance, arguing that vague historical decisions undermine institutional authority.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
According to RISU, citing UNIAN, a survey conducted in June shows that nearly 73% of Ukrainians fully support banning the Russian Orthodox Church in Ukraine. Denis Denysenko, director of Operational Sociology, stated that respondents view the group as Russian agents. The poll included 2,007 adults in government-controlled areas. This aligns with August 2024 data where 80% backed legislation banning religious organizations linked to Russia. Additionally, 70% of Ukrainians identify as Orthodox, with the majority belonging to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
Metropolitan Epiphanius, head of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, stated that the concept of the 'Russian world' constitutes a heresy that justifies authoritarianism and aggressive war. Speaking in Ukraine, he argued that religious freedom is now threatened not only by state persecution but also by religious centers, such as the Moscow Patriarchate, which promote hostility instead of peace. The church leader emphasized that the collective task for the 21st century is to protect religious liberty from this ideology, which he claims blesses dictatorship and persecutes dissenting believers. This statement was published by the church's press service.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
A court in the Zhytomyr region of Ukraine has convicted a 49-year-old pastor for evading military mobilization. The man, identified as M., refused service in a rear unit, citing religious beliefs that prohibited bearing arms. Although he requested alternative civilian service, authorities denied the request, explaining that such options are suspended during martial law. The court ruled that while alternative service exists for conscripts, it is not available for those mobilized under current laws. The verdict has not yet entered into force and can be appealed within 30 days.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
On October 12, an interfaith worship service took place on Khortytsia Island in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, to mark the Day of the Chaplain. The event, reported by the Zaporizhzhia City Council, featured chaplains from the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, and various Protestant communities. Chaplain Viktor Tkach led the ceremony, emphasizing the role of spiritual support for soldiers on the Zaporizhzhia front. The gathering highlighted the unified ministry of clergy from different denominations serving Ukrainian military personnel. This initiative aligns with the 2021 law establishing the legal framework for military chaplaincy in Ukraine's defense forces.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
The Kyiv Pechersk Lavra in Ukraine has trained 120 employees and monks in first aid. The course was conducted by rescuers from the Maltese Aid Service of Ukraine, in cooperation with the embassy of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta. Participants practiced cardiopulmonary resuscitation, defibrillator use, choking assistance, and bleeding control. This marks the first joint training for the reserve staff and monks. Maxim Ostapenko, the reserve's general director, emphasized the importance of these skills during wartime. He noted that the Lavra, which has previously suffered Russian attacks, requires such preparation to help visitors and believers before medical teams arrive.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇷🇺 Russia·
A bishop from the Russian Pentecostal movement received a medal for supporting the special military operation during a conference in Moscow on September 24-26. The award was presented by Roman Lavrinenko, identified as a combat veteran and church servant. Reports indicate the bishop participated in missionary trips to occupied Ukrainian territories, which the organization describes as aid in historical Russian regions. The event also featured discussions on supporting military families and producing films about fallen soldiers. Previously, the bishop stated that his congregation members participate in the war against Ukraine, calling them defenders of the homeland.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
Religious leaders from various Ukrainian denominations gathered in Lviv for the 19th Ecumenical Social Week to discuss cooperation during the ongoing war. Moderated by Father Ihor Shaban of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, the event highlighted how shared threats have strengthened interfaith solidarity. Speakers, including Taras Kurylets and Father Vladyslav Ihnatyuk, emphasized practical collaboration in humanitarian aid, military chaplaincy, and joint prayer. The dialogue aimed to counter Russian influence, overcome historical stereotypes, and foster unity among Christians in Ukraine and abroad to support the nation's survival and identity.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
According to the Office of the Prosecutor General, a priest of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) in Odessa will be tried for treason and attacking Ukraine's territorial integrity. Investigators allege that in 2014, the cleric collaborated with Russian representatives, received funding, and helped organize pro-Russian unrest. These activities included attempts to declare a so-called Odessa People's Republic and clashes with patriotic groups. The suspect and two others have been charged under special in absentia procedures while hiding in Russia or occupied territories. The State Bureau of Investigations conducted the probe.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
Victor Yelensky, head of Ukraine's State Service for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience, stated that the Russian Orthodox Church has annexed eight parishes in Crimea and eastern and southern Ukraine. Speaking to Esprreso, he claimed these communities were placed under direct Moscow control and those resisting faced harsh punishment. Yelensky cited the case of priest Kostiantyn Maksymov from Tokmak, who received a 14-year prison sentence for refusing to switch allegiance to Patriarch Kiril. The service has instructed the Kyiv Metropolitanate to reject these annexations and sever ties with the Russian church. This report originates from RISU in Ukraine.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇧🇾 Belarus·
According to RISU, pro-Russian nuns from Belarus continue to travel through Western Europe to sell goods produced by their monastery. A recent report from the outlet Хрысціянская візія states that sisters visited France and Switzerland to market their products. The funds raised are typically directed toward supporting the war against Ukraine. The outlet described their travels as heroic. These nuns from the Holy Elizabeth Monastery have faced repeated rejections from churches across Europe. They were expelled from Ireland and Poland in 2024, Italy and Norway in 2025, and Switzerland, France, and the Netherlands in 2026 due to the controversial nature of their fundraising.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
Researchers in Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine, have developed a tactile icon designed for people with visual impairments. The project was presented on October 6 during a meeting of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church hierarchy. The initiative was led by Ihor Tsependa, with a team of scientists including Nadia Babiy. The icon features multilingual audio descriptions accessible via QR codes and an adaptive design inspired by the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome. Metropolitan Volodymyr Vyytyshin praised the effort to make sacred art accessible. The icon will be sent to Kyiv for presentation to the head of the UGCC before being delivered to the Vatican.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
Authorities in Ukraine have issued a suspicion against a Ukrainian Orthodox Church priest in the Kharkiv region for blessing Russian military equipment. According to the Office of the Prosecutor General, Yuri K. publicly supported the Russian army and expressed anti-Ukrainian views during services in Chorne and Vilkhuvatka. Investigators state he urged locals to help Russian soldiers and encouraged them to obtain Russian passports. The priest faces a potential ban from holding certain positions for up to 15 years. This development highlights ongoing legal actions against clergy members accused of collaborating with occupying forces in occupied territories.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
Roman Barabakh, a medic and icon painter, created murals for a chapel at the Military Institute of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. According to Barabakh, the artwork features modernized archangels and symbols of military support, such as the Nova Poshta logo, to honor service members. The chapel includes quotes from the Quran and the Torah to ensure comfort for soldiers of all faiths. Military chaplain Father Serhiy Dmytriiev stated that the design aims to reflect the spirit of the war and emphasize love as a core value for Ukrainian defenders. The project was completed by a serving soldier to meet specific requirements for contemporary religious expression.
RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)·🇺🇦 Ukraine·
Greek Catholics in Poltava, Ukraine, have handed over 173 vehicles to the military since the start of the full-scale invasion. The initiative is led by Father Maksym Krolevsky and the Holy Trinity parish community. Church council head Yevhen Khailov emphasized the importance of solidarity with soldiers and chaplains. Recent donations, including a minibus, were supported by partners in Gottingen, Germany, and the Ukrainisch-Deutsche Gemeinschaft in Sudniedersachsen organization. Father Maksym thanked donors for their financial contributions and prayers, describing the effort as a systematic and persistent team work essential for victory.
Translated from Українська
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