Ukraine Must Defend Freedom as Well as Territory, UK Minister Warns
Lord Jackson urges Kyiv to safeguard civil liberties amid war, citing fears over potential ban of Ukrainian Orthodox Church
LONDON—A UK parliamentary figure has warned that while Ukraine’s resistance to Russia’s invasion is widely hailed as courageous and just, civil liberties must not become collateral damage in wartime.
Lord Jackson of Peterborough, a Brexiteer and advocate for religious freedom, has raised alarms over Kyiv’s treatment of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC). Despite the church’s public break from the Moscow Patriarchate, a bill passed by Ukraine’s Parliament last year has resulted in its de facto ban.
“President Zelensky and his people are rightly viewed as heroes,” Lord Jackson said. “But they should not lose track of what they are fighting for—freedom, democracy, and the rule of law. Shutting down the country’s oldest church will only sow the seeds of future social unrest.”
The controversial law allows the government to target religious organizations with "perceived ties" to a foreign government. While the full implementation of the law was delayed, it is set to come into full effect no later than June 1, 2025. This delay has not stopped local authorities from collaborating with agents of the separate, state-sponsored church in seizing UOC churches across the country.
These seizures are increasingly drawing criticism from around the globe, with Ukrainian MPs claiming such criticism will not stop them from closing churches.
“While it is legitimate to prosecute individuals for treason or collaboration,” Jackson cautioned, “to ban an entire church for the actions of a few is a gross abuse of power.”
Echoing recent comments by the late Pope Francis—who warned against any move to abolish a Christian church—Jackson called on Ukraine to ensure its religious policy aligns with democratic values and its aspirations for Western integration.
He affirmed Britain’s ongoing support for Ukraine, calling aid efforts “a source of pride,” but added that moral clarity must extend to protecting religious minorities.
“Ukraine must defend itself from Russia’s malign influence,” said Lord Jackson, “but not at the cost of the freedoms it seeks to preserve.”
UOJ previously reported on the seizure of UOC parishes in the Khmelnytsky region, and the resolution passed by the Council of Ministers to "streamline" church seizures.
