Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a law on Saturday that officially bans the Russian-linked Orthodox Church in Ukraine. The decision, which was published on Ukraine’s parliament website, marks a significant move as Ukraine continues to distance itself from Russian influence.
Efforts to separate from the Russian church have been ongoing since 2014, but they have accelerated since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Zelensky approved the bill on Ukraine’s independence day from the Soviet Union, highlighting the nation’s push for greater autonomy two and a half years into the conflict.
In an address on Saturday, Zelensky stated that this move would bolster Ukraine’s independence, declaring: “Ukrainian Orthodox (church) today is taking a step towards liberation from Moscow’s devils.”
Although the Ukrainian Orthodox Church officially broke away from the Moscow patriarchy in 2022, Ukrainian officials have accused its clerics of maintaining loyalty to Russia. Russia’s Orthodox Church leader, Patriarch Kirill, a close ally of President Vladimir Putin, has openly supported Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
This law is expected to further strain relations between Ukraine and Russia, as it targets one of the key cultural and religious ties between the two nations.
