Analyst Claims Washington Impeded Actions Against UOC

J.D. Vance. Photo: Julia Demaree Nikhinson

KYIV, UKRAINE — Political analyst Mykhailo Pavliv claimed that Ukrainian authorities developed a detailed plan to dismantle the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), but halted its implementation after intervention from the United States. Pavliv made the remarks during a broadcast with blogger Oleksandr Shelest.

According to Pavliv, the plan began moving forward in the summer, with concrete steps scheduled for August–September. By late October, authorities allegedly intended to impose a full ban on the UOC, expel His Beatitude Metr. Onufriy after they had first revoked his citizenship and claimed his stay had expired, convene an extraordinary synod, and force the Church’s unification with the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU).

Pavliv said the process was abruptly frozen after U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance intervened, asserting that Washington effectively oversees Ukraine’s internal political direction. He added that Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew was also summoned to the United States and urged to cease involvement.

Pavliv further alleged that Kyiv has quietly agreed to revise anti-church legislation under a proposed Trump administration framework.

Previously, the UOJ reported that a U.S. State Department official discussed religious freedom in Ukraine.

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