Ukraine’s NSDC bans religious organizations affiliated with Russia

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the information in his video address.

"First. The National Security and Defense Council instructed the Government to submit to the Verkhovna Rada a draft law on making it impossible for religious organizations affiliated with centers of influence in the Russian Federation to operate in Ukraine.

Second. The State Service for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience was commissioned to ensure the religious examination of the Management Statute of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church for the presence of a church-canonical connection with the Moscow Patriarchate and, if necessary, to take measures provided for by law," Zelenskyy said.

Besides, the president announced a revision of the UOC rights to use the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, sanctions against Russian agents in religious circles, and a reform of the State Service for Ethno-politics and Freedom of Conscience.

"Third point.Ensure the verification of the presence of legal grounds and compliance with the conditions of use by religious organizations of the property located on the territory of the National Kyiv-Pechersk Historical and Cultural Reserve. 

Fourth. All bodies responsible for ensuring national security must intensify measures to identify and counter the subversive activities of Russian special services in the religious environment of Ukraine. And apply personal sanctions - the surnames will be made public soon. 

And fifth. We need to raise the status and strengthen the capabilities of the State Service for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience. This structure will be reformed, which will enable it to really protect the rights and legitimate interests of the Ukrainians and the state.

With these and other decisions, we guarantee Ukraine's spiritual independence,” concluded the president.

• On November 22, the State Security Service of Ukraine conducted searches on the territory of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, Kyiv, as well as on the territory of the Koretsky Holy Trinity Monastery and the premises of the UOC Sarny-Polissia Eparchy.
• In the course of the searches, law enforcement officers had found pro-Russian propaganda literature, significant amounts of cash, and suspicious Russian citizens, who had either no documents, or forged documents.
• On November 23, PM of the European Solidarity party Mykola Knyazhytskyi registered a draft law on banning the Russian Orthodox Church and its structures on the territory of Ukraine.