On March 19, 2024, at the regular session of the Volyn regional council, local deputies decided not to continue the contract of temporary use of the complex of the Assumption Cathedral of XII-XVII centuries in Vladimir-Volynsky with the local community of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which ends on July 1, 2024. This is reported by “Volyn News”.

It is reported that for the consideration of deputies brought the issue of information Volyn regional military administration on the implementation of decisions of the regional Council of September 15, 2022 № 18/2 and November 16, 2023 № 23/53. On September 15, 2022 the Volyn Regional Council supported the appeal to the Parlament, the Cabinet of Ministers and the National Security and Defense Council on the ban of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church on the territory of Ukraine. And in November last year, deputies of the Volyn regional council appealed to the prime minister, the culture minister and the head of the service for ethno-politics and freedom of conscience with a request not to extend the agreement on the use of the complex of the Dormition Cathedral of the XII-XVII centuries in Volodymyr-Volynskyi by the UOC.

“The regional military administration will act in accordance with the current legislation. Volyn regional administration has no right to ban the activities of religious organizations. There is nothing to report now, because the contract is still in force. We have informed that the cathedral will be returned, and further we will act in accordance with the current legislation”, – Deputy Head of Volyn Regional State Administration Myroslava Yakimchuk.

In turn, the Deputy of the Volyn regional state administration Andriy Bokoch called not to act according to the law, and immediately “throw out” the UOC from the Uspensky cathedral of Vladimir-Volynsky.

“Such an impression that we do not have a war. We need to throw them (the UOC, – ed.) out, as they did in Khmelnytsky region. In one week, the chairman of the Region broke 200 lease agreements. The chairman of Volyn Region says that they will sue, then let them sue. Do not wait for July 1, break already”, – urged the Deputy.

We will remind, earlier we reported that on February 29, 2024, during the session of the city Council of Vladimir-Volynsky, local deputies signed an appeal on the inadmissibility of the continuation of the lease of the ancient Holy Assumption Cathedral of the city, which is the cathedral church of the Vladimir-Volyn diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The document was sent for consideration to the Ukrainian prime minister and the acting head of the Culture Ministry.