Ukrainian MP Vyatrovych: “Law Banning the UOC Is Now Being Put into Practice”

KYIV — On July 9, 2025, Ukrainian Member of Parliament Volodymyr Vyatrovych stated on the “Espreso” television channel that the findings of the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience (DESS) concerning the ties between the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) and the Moscow Patriarchate have signaled the beginning of the law’s implementation aimed at banning the UOC in Ukraine.

In his speech, the MP, referencing materials from the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), claimed that the interaction between certain representatives of the UOC and the Moscow Patriarchate allegedly has a systematic character. Therefore, in his opinion, the activities of the UOC must be terminated as an entity allegedly connected with the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC).

“This is an important step toward ending the activities of the Moscow Patriarchate and finally depriving it of the ability to function in Ukraine,” Vyatrovych declared.

“We see that this law does not remain just on paper. After the signal from the State Service, it’s now just a matter of observing formalities to launch the mechanism for its application,” the MP noted.

According to Vyatrovych, this process must become part of a “complex legal path” that, in his view, requires political resolve. “It’s important that the authorities don’t stand still but begin to act,” he added.

He also reiterated the claim of the “systemic influence of the ROC” and labeled the UOC as a “structure hindering the development of Ukrainian society.”

With these remarks, Vyatrovych effectively confirmed that the campaign against the UOC is entering an active phase and may lead to significant changes in the country’s religious policy.

It is worth noting that the conclusions of the DESS are based primarily on interpretations of documents from the ROC, whereas the position and statutory amendments made by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church itself were not taken into account.

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