Metropolitan Volodymyr (Melnyk). Attack by TCC Officers

Metropolitan of Volodymyr-Volynskyi and Kovel Volodymyr. Attack by TRC personnel on UOC clergy at a mobile checkpoint

May 7, 2026

On May 7, 2026, near the village of Derno on the highway between Rivne and Lutsk, TRC personnel stopped a vehicle in which Metropolitan of Volodymyr-Volynskyi and Kovel Volodymyr, Archpriest Oleksandr Kobenko, and Deacon Dmytro Manetskyi were traveling.

This was reported by the press service of the Volodymyr-Volynskyi Eparchy.

According to the eparchy, TRC personnel began forcibly pulling the bishop out of the vehicle without checking documents.

When Archpriest Oleksandr attempted to protect the metropolitan, pepper spray was used against him, after which the priest was forced to his knees and struck several times.

It is reported that Metropolitan Volodymyr and Archpriest Oleksandr were forcibly pushed into a TRC service vehicle.

Due to the stress sustained, the bishop suffered a heart attack, and the priest experienced an acute allergic reaction to the sprayed gas.

The eparchy reported that police officers present nearby did not intervene in what was happening.

Later, the metropolitan and the priest were dropped off near the checkpoint, after which TRC personnel and police left in an unknown direction.

(Source: Volodymyr-Volynskyi Eparchy of the UOC)

Current condition:

The condition of those injured is assessed as stable.