“Did not fight the Moscow spirit”: Director General of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra dismissed for weak resistance to the UOC

Religious repression continues in Ukraine, as Maksym Ostapenko, Director General of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra National Reserve, has been dismissed due to what officials described as a “weak position” in dealing with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC).

This was announced on Facebook by Mykola Tochytskyi, Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications.

“The process of cleansing Ukrainian sacred sites is a priority that requires decisive action—especially since the activities of Moscow-affiliated religious organizations are banned by law. The dismissal of the Director General of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra National Reserve is a response to a weak stance on enforcing that law. There should be no ‘Moscow spirit’ in the Lavra, and eliminating it should have been the Director’s highest priority. Despite the Ministry’s support in transferring churches to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), the results of a year’s work by the director do not meet the national security challenges facing our society,” Tochytskyi wrote.

He also noted that the Assumption Cathedral in Kaniv has been officially transferred to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU).

The minister’s dismissal order has been published online.

Ostapenko, responding on social media, said the dismissal came as a surprise and that no explanation or complaintsabout his work had been given.

“In recent weeks, there were rumors about a behind-the-scenes struggle for control over the Lavra. We felt pressure. It’s clear that someone was uncomfortable with us speaking openly about the need to cleanse the Lavra of imperial narratives. Someone was bothered by the truth. Someone by our principles,” Ostapenko wrote.

As a reminder, Ukrainian authorities have already removed part of the monastery complex from UOC control, though the Lower Lavra is still being used by the Church.