In Khmelnytskyi region, a priest of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate beat his husband to death.

The 46-year-old abbot of the UOC-MP monastery in Starokostiantyniv will be tried for beating a man, resulting in his death.

The Communications Department of the National Police of Ukraine reported this.

The incident occurred in August 2025 on the monastery grounds. According to investigators, the priest, while intoxicated, got into an argument with a 51-year-old man. The argument escalated into a fight, during which the abbot punched and kicked the victim multiple times. The man died at the scene from his injuries.

Law enforcement officers opened a criminal case, and upon completion of the pre-trial investigation, the indictment was sent to court.

The priest is charged with causing grievous bodily harm resulting in the victim’s death. If found guilty, he faces up to 10 years in prison.

As a reminder, on August 27, the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnopolicy and Freedom of Conscience (DESS) officially recognized the Kyiv Metropolitanate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church as affiliated with the Russian Orthodox Church , which is banned in Ukraine. This decision followed a lengthy investigation that revealed signs of the UOC’s subordination to a foreign religious organization.

Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree terminating the citizenship of Orest Berezovsky, known as Metropolitan Onufriy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (MP).

Also follow “Pryamy” on Facebook , Twitter , Telegram and Instagram.