The State Service of Ukraine on Ethics and Freedom of Conscience (DESS) has completed a large-scale investigation into the activities of the Pochaiv Holy Dormition Lavra. As a result of the analysis of the monastery's charter documents and activity materials, the agency officially recorded signs of the institution's connection with the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC).
Documentary evidence of dependence
DESS specialists established that the current charter of the Lavra directly confirms its affiliation with the Kyiv Metropolitanate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC). It is important to note that last year the religious institution was already recognized as a structure linked to the ROC. Furthermore, the charter documents of the Russian Orthodox Church itself provide for the inclusion of the head of the Pochaiv Lavra in the governing bodies of the ROC, which legally establishes the administrative link.
The order on the results of the investigation was issued in strict accordance with Ukrainian legislation. In particular, the inspection was conducted on the basis of the laws "On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations" and "On the Protection of the Constitutional Order in the Sphere of Activities of Religious Organizations," as well as the government regulation on conducting such expert examinations.
Timeline of the inspection
The investigation procedure lasted from June 24, 2026. The expert examination was completed in full compliance with the requirements of current legislation, making the obtained conclusions legally significant for further state actions.
Context of the conflict around the Lavra
The Pochaiv Holy Dormition Lavra is one of the greatest Orthodox shrines in Ukraine. Currently, the monastery is in use by the UOC (MP). However, in recent years, a serious legal and political conflict has been unfolding around the institution.
Since 2023, the state, through the courts, has initiated the process of returning the Lavra's property. In the same year, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) conducted searches within the monastery walls. The basis for operational actions was suspicion of inciting religious hatred and denying Ukrainian statehood.
In addition to ideological issues, the Ministry of Culture commission identified serious violations in the use of state property. In particular, facts of carrying out repair and restoration work without obtaining the necessary permits were recorded.
Legislators' reaction
It should be recalled that in 2023, the Committee on Humanitarian and Information Policy of the Verkhovna Rada recommended that the parliament approve a resolution. The document contained a recommendation for the Cabinet of Ministers to terminate the lease agreement for the building complexes of the Pochaiv Lavra with the UOC MP. The current conclusions of the DESS may become an additional argument for the implementation of this initiative.
