Updated

Prosecutors in Ukraine's Ternopil region filed a lawsuit on November 2, 2026, seeking to end a 2003 agreement that gave the Pochaiv Lavra complex free use for over 50 years. They want the property returned to state ownership. The defendant is the religious organization of the Pochaiv Holy Dormition Lavra, and the Kremenets-Pochaiv State Historical and Architectural Reserve, which manages the state property, supports the plaintiff as a third party. Ukrinform reported the lawsuit. Lesia Huretska, head of information policy at the Ternopil Regional Prosecutor's Office, said the grounds are gross violations of the terms of use and heritage protection law. Inspections documented unauthorized changes, including removed interior walls in monastic cells and the bishop's residence, new passageways, unapproved facade and finishing work, and new murals without Ministry of Culture approval. Prosecutors say these threaten the site and its status as a national heritage landmark, so they seek to return the property to state use and halt the works. The Commercial Court has opened proceedings.