Ukraine moves to ban Orthodox Church over alleged Moscow ties
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With this move, Ukraine is escalating a complex religious and political struggle amid the ongoing war.
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Worshipers and clergy gather to celebrate Palm Sunday at Kiev-Pechersk Lavra monastery, Ukraine's most revered Orthodox site in Kiev, Ukraine, Sunday, April 9, 2023 (AP)
The Ukrainian government is moving to ban the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), alleging that it remains affiliated with Moscow despite claiming independence from the Russian Orthodox Church.
The decision targets one of the two major branches of Orthodoxy in Ukraine, underscoring the country’s ongoing efforts to sever all remaining Russian influence amid the broader conflict.
The action follows a law passed by Ukraine’s Parliament last year outlawing the Moscow-based Russian Orthodox Church and authorizing the government to prohibit any religious organization with ties to it.
A formal petition has now been submitted to the courts to ban the UOC’s activities. If the court rules in favor of the government, the Church will have the right to appeal. The legal process could be finalized within months, according to the UOC's legal representatives.
Read more: Russian church condemns Kiev's ban on Ukraine Orthodox Church
Legal action targets Kiev metropolis and leadership
The primary target of the government’s action is the UOC’s Kiev Metropolis, the central governing body of the Church, led by Metropolitan Onufry. The government has already revoked Onufry’s Ukrainian citizenship.
According to Ukrainian law, affiliated institutions such as monasteries and regional eparchies may also face sanctions, including the loss of access to state-owned religious properties.
The move is based on findings by the State Service of Ukraine on Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience (DESS), which claimed that the UOC had not sufficiently demonstrated a break from the Russian Orthodox Church.
UOC denies allegations, cites separation from Moscow
The UOC, which historically had centuries-old ties with Moscow, denounced Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and declared its independence from the Russian Orthodox Church that same year.
The Church reiterated its independent status in 2025 and took liturgical steps to underscore its break, including omitting Patriarch Kirill’s name from religious services.
Despite these measures, the government argues that the UOC has not amended its governing documents or taken legal steps to finalize its independence. The DESS claims the Church remains a de facto extension of Moscow.
“This is not a religious organization, but a branch of an aggressor state,” read a headline on the DESS’s official website.
UOC lawyer Robert Amsterdam rejected the accusation, saying the findings “intentionally ignored” the Church’s efforts, such as establishing parishes abroad for Ukrainian refugees. He described the government's actions as politically motivated.
Read more: Patriarch Kirill slams Kiev decision to expel UOC monks from monastery
Religious freedom debate grows amid US and UN criticism
The ban attempt has drawn international attention. The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights warned in 2024 that the law could unjustly penalize entire religious communities based on the actions of a few individuals.
The US Commission on International Religious Freedom raised similar concerns but emphasized that Russia remained the most significant threat to religious freedom, particularly in occupied areas.
The issue has also become part of the debate over US aid to Ukraine, particularly under President Donald Trump's administration, which has taken a more critical stance toward continued assistance.
Orthodox identity in Ukraine remains divided
According to a 2024 survey by the Kiev International Institute of Sociology, roughly 70% of Ukrainians identify as Orthodox.
However, most align with the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, which received official recognition as independent in 2019 from Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople.
The Russian Orthodox Church disputes Bartholomew's authority to grant such recognition, viewing Ukraine as within its jurisdiction.
This division continues to deepen amid the war, as the role of religious institutions becomes increasingly politicized. Ukrainian officials insist the issue is not about faith but about national security and institutional independence from Russia.
Read more: European officials fear new Russian offensive in Donetsk
