Russian priest killed by rocket artillery in Ukraine's Kherson region

A Russian Orthodox priest serving with the Magadan Eparchy has been killed in the zone of the Special Military Operation, according to an official announcement from the Moscow Patriarchate.

Hieromonk Gerasim (Preobrazhensky), known in the world as Denis Preobrazhensky, died on November 10, 2026, while performing his pastoral duties. The priest was at a temporary deployment point in the Kherson direction when the position came under attack by Ukrainian rocket artillery. He was 32 years old.

Born on March 5, 1994, in Orsk, Orenburg Oblast, Gerasim had served in the Magadan Eparchy since 2017 as a cleric of the Holy Trinity Cathedral and as head of the eparchy's chancellery. In September 2024, he requested to be sent to the front to provide spiritual support to servicemen, subsequently signing a contract with the Russian Ministry of Defense. He served with the 91st Brigade of the Dnieper River Flotilla.

According to the Patriarchate's statement, the priest was remembered by his command as having enjoyed "enormous authority, deep gratitude, and sincere love" among both officers and soldiers.