Andrii Bokoch

Andrii Bokoch

Date of birth: 19.11.1981

Deputy of the Volyn Regional Council representing the "ZA MAIBUTNIE" party, member of the standing commission on education, science, information space, culture and language, national and spiritual development, and former aide to People's Deputy Ihor Huz.

Since 2020, Andrii Bokoch has systematically taken part in actions directed against UOC believers and clergy.

While serving as an aide to People's Deputy Ihor Huz, known for his anti-church stance, Bokoch provided support to OCU raiders in the village of Susval, Volyn Region.

As a deputy of the Volyn Regional Council, Bokoch has publicly employed hate rhetoric and issued threats against UOC believers and clergy.

Furthermore, the deputy actively participated in the campaign to expropriate the UOC Dormition Cathedral in the city of Volodymyr.

On January 31, 2020, Andrii Bokoch was present at the sealing of the illegally re-registered UOC Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos in the village of Susval, Volyn Region.

The church was sealed by police officers. As the head of the district police department, Mykhailo Bobyk, announced on that occasion, entry to the church would remain closed until the court determined the church's denominational affiliation.

That day, the police representative also warned that any attempt to open the doors would be treated as unauthorized self-help (samoupravstvo).

As the UOC community told the SPZh outlet, the head of the Ovadnivska UTC, Serhii Panasevych, was present during the sealing of the church during working hours, as was — for reasons unclear — aide to a People's Deputy of Ukraine Andrii Bokoch, who observed the proceedings.

The church had previously been illegally re-registered by OCU activists who attempted a raider seizure.

(Source: UOJ)

On February 21, 2020, a round table meeting was held in the council chamber of the Ovadnivska united territorial community of Volyn Region to discuss the religious conflict in the village of Susval.

The event was initiated by local authorities and law enforcement. Andrii Bokoch, aide to the People's Deputy of Ukraine for that district, Ihor Huz, also arrived in Ovadne/Susval.

The UOC parish in Susval was among the religious communities of the Volodymyr-Volyn Diocese that were re-registered in favor of the OCU. The re-registration had been carried out back in March 2019; however, seizing the church from the believers proved difficult, since in practice the OCU active membership in the village turned out to be a minority.

The decision to hold the round table was taken in connection with the OCU raiders' attempt to tear off the seals and seize the church on February 14, 2020.

According to round table participants from the UOC community, they were not allowed to express their point of view on the property dispute — they were interrupted and escorted out of the premises.

As a result, the organizers of the meeting concluded that, despite the community's re-registration still being contested in court, a property inventory would be conducted in the church on February 25 for the purpose of transferring the building to the OCU raiders, and that OCU representatives would hold their first services in the church on February 29 – March 1.

(Source: UOJ)

On April 10, 2024, already serving as a deputy of the Volyn Regional State Administration, Andrii Bokoch demanded that an immediate inventory be conducted at the Holy Dormition Cathedral of the Volodymyr-Volyn Diocese of the UOC.

Bokoch stated that all property and valuables located in the Holy Dormition Cathedral urgently needed to be documented, as the term of the agreement on the UOC's use of the cathedral would expire in 2.5 months.

"When did you last inspect the cathedral? Do you have a list of the artifacts kept there? As a deputy, I will submit a formal request for that list to be provided to me. Because, according to my information, very few of the items currently in the Dormition Cathedral of Volodymyr have been inventoried. It may turn out that on July 1, when we drive out the Moscow priests, they will leave and take everything with them," Andrii Bokoch stated.

The deputy wants to carry out similar inspections at the Nyzkynytchi and Zymne monasteries. To that end, he intends to invite not only specialists but also local activists: according to Bokoch, this would allegedly make the inspection of the shrines objective and impartial.

(Source: UOJ)

On July 16, 2024, during a session of the temporary supervisory commission, Bokoch called for the premises of the UOC Holy Dormition Cathedral to be sealed.

Following the sealing, Bokoch intends to file suit against the Volodymyr-Volyn Diocese, on the grounds that the diocese is not complying with the Volyn Regional State Administration's orders to vacate the occupied premises.

"I consider it expedient to seal the premises first, and only then proceed to litigation, because this is a historical monument and state property," he stated.

The next step in expelling the UOC from the cathedral is to invite law enforcement officers to the next session of the temporary supervisory commission and jointly develop a strategy for returning the religious buildings to state ownership.
(Source: Volyn Regional Council)

On July 30, 2024, Bokoch published a post containing threats of extrajudicial violence against UOC believers.

On his Facebook page, the deputy stated that if the believers did not vacate the Dormition Cathedral and other premises in Volodymyr, "a resolutely minded public would start meting out its own justice."

Bokoch described a meeting between Volyn Regional State Administration deputies and law enforcement representatives concerning the situation surrounding the cathedral, the diocesan administration, and the theological school of the Volodymyr-Volyn Diocese.

According to him, the Regional State Administration briefed participants on the status of lawsuits regarding the termination of the agreement with the UOC diocese.

Bokoch declared that the cathedral must be sealed first, before proceeding with legal action. On this occasion he chose to apply pressure on his colleagues and on law enforcement.

"I also once again emphasized the importance of preventing unauthorized self-help and actions beyond the bounds of the legal framework amid the escalating conflict, because a moment may come when the believers can no longer be stopped and no one — neither law enforcement, nor officials, nor politicians — will be able to intervene while a resolutely minded public starts meting out its own justice," Bokoch stated.

(Source: Bokoch's personal Facebook page)

On September 2, 2024, Bokoch made a statement in which he admitted to exerting pressure on the court.

The deputy announced an upcoming court hearing that would consider the possible eviction of the administration of the Volodymyr-Volyn Diocese of the UOC from the premises of the Holy Dormition Cathedral in the city of Volodymyr.

The premises also house the diocesan administration and the theological school. The deputy assured that he would personally attend all court hearings. He also admitted to effectively lobbying for the interests of the OCU, thereby violating the equal rights of citizens.

"I wish to inform you that today, at 11:30 a.m., a court hearing begins at the Volyn Regional Commercial Court, located at 54A Voli Avenue in the city of Lutsk. I, as a deputy of the Volyn Regional Council and aide to People's Deputy Ihor Huz, will be present at this hearing, as well as at all subsequent hearings in this case. I am confident that we will succeed in returning our Holy Dormition Cathedral to the fold of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine," Bokoch stated.

(Source: Bokoch's personal Facebook page)

On December 12, 2024, Bokoch called on law enforcement agencies to conduct "preventive work" with UOC priests and believers.

At a regional council session, the deputy effectively called for law enforcement pressure to be applied to a religious group.

The deputy blamed UOC believers — who are themselves victims of raider actions by OCU perpetrators — for the religious conflicts.

"There is significant moral and psychological pressure on citizens being exerted by priests of the Moscow Patriarchate and their supporters. Those who raise the issue of religious communities transitioning to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine — including the relatives and loved ones of military personnel — frequently suffer as a result. I request that work be conducted with the leadership and clergy of the UOC MP to prevent any acts of violence against representatives of OCU religious communities," the deputy stated.

Andrii Bokoch addressed his deputy inquiry to the head of the Volyn Regional Military Administration, the head of the SBU Directorate in Volyn Region, and the head of the National Police Main Directorate in Volyn Region.

(Source: UOJ)

On December 17, 2025, at a session of the Volyn Regional Council, Bokoch addressed a deputy inquiry to the head of the Volyn Regional Military Administration, Ivan Rudnytskyi, regarding the presence of religious formations in state and communal institutions of the oblast.

The inquiry concerned churches and chapels operating within medical institutions, coal-mining enterprises, schools, rehabilitation centers, social institutions, military units, and other facilities.

According to the deputy, he is concerned that among such religious formations there may be "churches of the Moscow Patriarchate," which, as he claims, "is under Russia's control."

"I assume that among such religious structures there may be those belonging to the hostile patriarchate, overseen from Moscow," Bokoch stated.

The deputy emphasized that such religious sites could be used for pro-Russian propaganda. The purpose of the inquiry is to obtain precise information about the existence of such structures and to verify whether they form part of a subversive network.

Andrii Bokoch's inquiry received support among deputies of the regional council. Ivan Rudnytskyi is now required to provide an official response regarding the possible presence of UOC MP religious formations within state and communal institutions of Volyn Oblast.

(Source: UOJ)

On March 31, 2026, the Volyn Regional Council approved Bokoch's deputy inquiry calling for inspections of Sunday schools and family clubs operating within UOC parishes.

The deputy declared that "competent authorities" needed to be engaged to examine the activities of such institutions.

According to him, the impetus for the inquiry was a series of events connected to the "Perspektyva" Orthodox school in Kyiv, which "effectively operated as a family club or Sunday school."

He claims that at this institution "approximately 60 children were exposed to enemy propaganda" because they "were taught using Soviet textbooks, shown films and taught songs of the occupying country, as well as the so-called Slavic language."

Citing these claims, Bokoch proposed initiating inspections of all similar structures operating within UOC religious communities in the region.

The initiative was approved by a majority of regional council deputies.

(Source: UOJ)

On May 16, 2026, Bokoch announced comprehensive inspections of educational centers, Sunday schools, and family clubs operating within UOC religious communities in the oblast.

The stated primary aim of these so-called "inspections" is "to verify the absence of propaganda of 'Russian world' ideas and the teaching of children according to the aggressor country's programs."

According to the deputy, the education department has already provided a preliminary response indicating that no violations were found; however, Bokoch is insisting on a more detailed analysis.

He noted that a number of institutions still contain "suspicious elements."

As examples of "suspicious elements," the deputy cited icons of saints canonized by the Orthodox Church.

"Even in the Lutsk district, activists found icons of the Russian Nicholas II in one of the churches. There were also icons of Xenia of Petersburg in one of the oblast's communal institutions. I am not saying whether she is a good or a bad saint, but we have our own saints."

(Source: BUH)