Zelensky Sanctions MP Who Supports Ukrainian Orthodox Church

Artem Dmytruk. Source: Static.nv.ua

KYIV — Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has signed a new decree imposing sanctions on individuals accused of collaborating with Russia in occupied territories.

Decree No. 417/2025, published on the President’s Office website, targets individuals and businesses supposedly operating in Russian-occupied areas, particularly those who are said to justify the invasion or help sustain the occupation economically or ideologically.

In a statement, Zelensky said:

I have signed a decree on new sanctions by Ukraine against those who cooperate with the occupiers on our land. These are individuals and legal entities that do business in the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine, in particular in Crimea, and also help justify the aggression, consider it normal to make money under occupation, and pay taxes to the occupiers. We are identifying all the schemes that are used in the interests of the occupier, and therefore against Ukraine, and we are blocking them. We are also working to fully synchronize Ukrainian sanctions with the decisions of our partners. Justice must prevail in all jurisdictions and effectively restrict all those who have chosen Russia and war.

Among those targeted by the new decree is MP Artem Dmytruk. Dmytruk is known for publicly supporting the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), which he serves as a subdeacon.

Dmytruk fled Ukraine on August 24, 2024. He is believed to be living in London. Ukraine has filed an extradition request with the United Kingdom.

Read also