“ES” MP asserts that UOC is “working against spiritual independence”

MP from the ES Oleg Synyutka and the head of the OCU Epifaniy Dumenko. Photo: facebook.com/Oleg.Synyutka.official/

Oleg Synyutka, a member of the "European Solidarity" faction in the Ukrainian parliament, has called for the prohibition of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, stating that the Church is allegedly "working against Ukraine's spiritual independence." He made these remarks during an interview on the "5 Kanal" television channel, which was posted on YouTube.

He noted that there is sufficient support in parliament to ban the UOC, with the exception of one vote – that of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

The MP believes that there is a lack of political will within the government to initiate the necessary legislation for banning the Church and order the VR to pass a bill to that effect.

According to Synyutka, Ukrainian society allegedly overwhelmingly desires the prohibition of the UOC, and the authorities should respond to this sentiment.

"Practice shows that when there is pressure from society, then the government has to react... They often adjust to public opinion. It's excellent that Ukrainians today are united and dictate to the authorities the liquidation of this structure. Such events and broadcasts encourage the government to act," added the MP.

As reported by the UOJ, the Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada stated that there are not enough votes in parliament to ban the UOC.

Read also

Conservative Anglicans to elect new leader instead of female archbishop

The conservative Anglican movement intends to elect its own leader, not recognizing the new Archbishop of Canterbury.

Believers raise over ₴250,000 for the bail of deserter priest in one day

Funds for the release of Archpriest Vitaly Agafonov, detained after leaving the military unit, were raised in less than a day.

In USA, vandal gets 10 months in prison for satanic inscriptions in church

A resident of Indiana was convicted for desecrating a church with satanic symbols.

Yelensky complains that UOC brings in foreign lawyers for defense

The head of DESS is dissatisfied that the Kyiv Metropolis uses professional legal assistance in court.

Metropolitan Pavel performs tonsure of new monk for Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra

A monk of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra took monastic vows with the name Tykhon.

Hearing in Lower Lavra case postponed again due to judge’s illness

The session of the Northern Commercial Court of Appeal was scheduled for March 5, 2026.