The State Service of Ukraine on Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience (DESS) has recognized the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) as affiliated with the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC). This is indicated in a statement by the State Ethnic Policy Service, the Ukrainian News agency reports.
"On August 27, 2025, the State Ethnic Policy Service adopted a decision to recognize the KYIV METROPOLIS OF THE UKRAINIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH (identification code according to EDRPOU 21510633) as affiliated with a foreign religious organization, the activities of which are prohibited in Ukraine in accordance with Article 3 of the Law of Ukraine "On Protection of the Constitutional Order in the Sphere of Activities of Religious Organizations", the message says.
It is noted that this decision was preceded by a study on the presence of signs of affiliation of the Kyiv Metropolis of the UOC (KM of the UOC) with a foreign religious organization, the activities of which are prohibited in Ukraine.
The study revealed signs of affiliation of the KM of the UOC with the ROC, which is a violation of the law, accordingly, the State Ethnic Policy Service sent the KM of the UOC an instruction to eliminate the violation of the law.
The State Ethnic Policy Service reports that in his letter, the Primate of the UOC Metropolitan Onufriy declared his refusal to comply with the specified order.
Due to the lack of grounds for a conclusion on the elimination of violations or the erroneousness of the issued order, the State Ethnic Policy Service recognized the Kyiv Metropolis of the UOC as affiliated with a foreign religious organization, the activities of which are prohibited in Ukraine.
As the Ukrainian News agency earlier reported, in October 2024, the Cabinet of Ministers instructed the State Ethnic Policy Service to develop a procedure for investigating the signs of a religious organization's affiliation with the Russian Church.
On August 20, 2024, the Verkhovna Rada banned the activities of the Russian Church in Ukraine.
It was established that the activities of religious organizations affiliated with a foreign religious organization, the activities of which are prohibited in Ukraine, must be terminated.
The decision on the entry of a particular religious organization into the ROC, as well as the issue of terminating its activities, is made on the basis of studies conducted by impartial experts independent of the state.
The State Ethnic Policy Service provides a study that establishes the presence or absence of a particular religious organization in Ukraine as part of the Russian Orthodox Church.
The State Ethnic Policy Service previously emphasized that only a court can terminate the activities of a religious organization affiliated with the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC).
Who we are: About us, Contacts. How we write news and our principles: Editorial code. We did our best. If you found this valuable – please support us.
To request a correction, please send an email.