Ukraine Ramps Up Efforts to Ban UOJ Globally

IMAGE: UOJ journalists imprisoned by the FSB.

KYIV — Ukraine’s Ministry of Digital Transformation is reportedly escalating efforts to ban the Union of Orthodox Journalists (UOJ) on international platforms, including social networks, YouTube, and Telegram, according to Livyi Bereh, an outlet tied to the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU).

The September 2025 report, citing SBU sources, alleges that the UOJ is part of an "FSB network," intensifying scrutiny on the UOC-affiliated outlet.

Livyi Bereh stated, “The Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine is also trying at the international level to ban these resources on social networks, YouTube, and Telegram.”

UOJ’s website has been blocked in Ukraine since 2022, and recent moves target its global reach, including the recent removal of its Greek-language YouTube channel.

UOJ denies espionage claims, calling them slanderous and politically driven, and cites apologies from critics in Greece and Cyprus for prior attacks.

Since its founding, several UOJ journalists have been unlawfully imprisoned by the Ukrainian government.

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