Ban on Ukrainian Orthodox Church Activities Over Alleged Allegiance to Russian Orthodox Church
Ukrainian lawmakers have announced the prohibition of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church’s activities, accusing it of allegiance to the Russian Orthodox Church.
The majority of Ukrainian Christians are Orthodox, divided into two branches: those following the Russian Orthodox Church and an independent church officially recognized by the global Orthodox hierarchy since 2019. The Ukrainian Orthodox Church formally severed its ties with the Russian Orthodox Church last year, but the Ukrainian government has accused the church of spreading Kremlin narratives and cooperating with Russian forces in occupied territories.
Ukrainian lawmakers passed a bill prohibiting the activities of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, accusing it of allegiance to the Russian Orthodox Church. “Russia Today” reported a statement from a Ukrainian Parliament representative: “The Ukrainian Parliament has passed a bill that prohibits the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which has canonical legitimacy.” It is worth noting that this law will take effect 30 days after the bill is published.
“Alexei Chepa,” a Russian lawmaker and deputy head of the International Affairs Committee of the Russian State Duma, commented on the passage of this bill: “The prohibition of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church represents discrimination against believers and also demonstrates political oppression and genocide of Ukrainian Orthodox people.”
“Maria Zakharova,” spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, also responded to the ban, saying: “Orthodoxy is being destroyed in Ukraine. The goal is to eliminate true and conventional Orthodoxy and instead introduce a false church and create a pseudo-Orthodox church.”
“Sergei Mironov,” a party leader in Russia and deputy head of the Duma, also reacted to this bill, saying: “The prohibition of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church by the country’s parliament is the latest measure to transform Ukraine into an autocratic country under the dictatorship of neo-Nazis.”
