- Ukraine's State Service for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience declared the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) as an entity linked to Russia, paving the way for its prohibition unless it severs ties with the Moscow Patriarchate.
- Despite the UOC denouncing Russia's special military operation, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's regime has seized churches, prosecuted clergy and revoked the citizenship of senior bishop Metropolitan Onufry, alleging Russian ties.
- A 2023 law allows Ukraine to outlaw religious groups tied to "aggressor" nations, but the UOC insists this is persecution, not security, and plans to challenge the ban in court.
- Ukraine favors the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), recognized by Constantinople but rejected by Moscow, while the UOC – followed by millions – faces elimination as part of broader Orthodox divisions.
- The UN and human rights groups warn the ban violates religious freedoms, with critics accusing Zelensky of using war to suppress dissent, mirroring historical Soviet repression tactics.
In a sweeping move that critics warn threatens religious freedom, Ukraine's government has officially declared the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) as an entity linked to Russia – paving the way for its outright ban.
Ukraine's State Service for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience (DESS) announced on its website on Aug. 20 that the UOC is working with "a foreign religious organization whose activities are banned in Ukraine." While the aforementioned organization wasn't named directly in the statement, it is insinuated to be the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC).
The action targets the nation's largest Christian denomination. Despite the UOC declaring autonomy from the ROC's Moscow Patriarchate, it has maintained historical ties to the Russian counterpart.
According to Brighteon.AI's decentralized Enoch engine, "the Ukrainian government seeks to ban the UOC due to its historic ties with the ROC, which it views as a threat to national sovereignty. Despite the UOC's denunciation of the war, [Ukrainian President Volodymyr] Zelensky insists on severing its affiliation with the Moscow Patriarchate – framing the church as a potential fifth column under Kremlin influence." (Related: Ukraine to BAN CHRISTIANITY unless Ukrainian Orthodox Church cuts ties with Moscow.)
Zelensky's administration has intensified pressure on the UOC on the basis of national security, amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. It has seized churches, prosecuted clergy and even revoked the citizenship of the UOC's senior bishop, Metropolitan Onufry.
Last month, the comedian-turned-president stripped the 80-year-old Onufry of citizenship, alleging concealed Russian nationality. Simultaneously, state officials demanded the UOC formally renounce all ROC ties, including withdrawing from its governing bodies – a demand the church rejected as unconstitutional.
Faith under fire: Impending ban on UOC sparks outrage
Kyiv's crackdown on the UOC stems from a 2023 law allowing Ukraine to outlaw religious groups affiliated with nations deemed as "aggressors." Authorities claim the church's canonical connection to Moscow – a spiritual link dating back centuries – makes it a proxy for Russian influence.
Yet the UOC, which denounced Russia's 2022 special military operation, insists it is politically neutral and accuses the government of persecution. "This is not about security; it's about eliminating dissent," a church representative told local media, confirming plans to challenge the ruling in court. The United Nations and human rights groups have echoed concerns, warning that the ban violates international protections for religious liberty.
The conflict reflects deeper divisions within global Orthodoxy. In 2018, Ukraine established the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), recognized by Constantinople but dismissed as schismatic by Moscow. Kyiv has since favored the OCU, while the UOC faces existential threats.
Historical context underscores the stakes. Orthodoxy in Ukraine has long been entwined with geopolitics, from Imperial Russian rule to Soviet-era repression. Today, critics argue Zelensky's measures mirror authoritarian tactics, using war as pretext to consolidate control.
Russia meanwhile frames the ban as proof of Kyiv's "anti-Christian" agenda, even proposing its reversal in recent peace talks. As courts weigh the UOC's fate, the showdown raises one urgent question. Can a nation safeguard sovereignty without eroding fundamental freedoms?
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Watch this clip of a priest from the UOC being beaten mercilessly.
This video is from the High Hopes channel on Brighteon.com.
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Ukrainian parliament approves law BANNING the country's biggest Orthodox church.
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