## 2024-08-11 07:08:06
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hinted at banning the Russian-affiliated Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), according to DPA news agency.
In his evening video address yesterday, Zelensky promised to “strengthen Ukrainian spiritual independence.”
Most Ukrainians are Orthodox Christians. However, the Orthodox Church in the country is divided into two: the Moscow-affiliated UOC and the independent Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), which received autocephaly from the Ecumenical Patriarchate in 2019. DPA notes.
The number of followers of the OCU increased after the Russian invasion in 2022. However, despite becoming a minority Church, the UOC still wields influence. It is accused by Ukrainian political leaders of supporting the invasion and attempting to manipulate public opinion.
“I just held a preparatory meeting to make a decision that will strengthen our Ukrainian spiritual independence,” Zelensky said. “We must deprive Moscow of any opportunity to limit the freedom of Ukrainians. And the solutions for this must be 100% effective. We will guarantee this,” the Ukrainian president promised, as quoted by BTA.
Last year, Ukraine’s parliament passed a bill to ban religious organizations affiliated with powerful entities in a state engaged in armed aggression. However, an attempt to finalize this legislation failed last month, according to DPA.
The Ukrainian Orthodox Church claims to have severed all ties with the Russian Orthodox Church, which actively supports the war. Ukrainian political leaders disagree with this assertion.