Zelenskiy suggests moves towards banning Orthodox church with Moscow ties

11/8/2024 12:23

        Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy pledged on Saturday to "strengthen our Ukrainian spiritual independence", suggesting that the country's leadership was moving towards effectively banning the branch of the Orthodox Church that has links to Moscow.
        
        A majority of Ukrainians are Orthodox Christians, but the faith is split into one branch with traditional links to the Russian Orthodox church and an independent church, recognised by the world Orthodox hierarchy since 2019.
        
        Membership of the independent church loyal to the Kyiv patriarchate has swelled since Russian troops invaded Ukraine in February 2022. But the minority Moscow-linked church retains influence and Ukrainian leaders accuse it of abetting the invasion and trying to poison public opinion.
        
        Parliament last year gave initial approval to a bill that would have outlawed the activities of religious organisations affiliated with centres of influence "in a state that carries out armed aggression against Ukraine".