Will UOC believers return from Europe?

Ukrainian refugees in the EU. Photo: DW

Minister of Unity Oleksandr Chernyshov has stated that after the war, he expects 70–75% of Ukrainian refugees in the EU to return. According to him, the success of repatriating the majority will depend on what Ukraine does to facilitate it: “reforms, salary increases, housing solutions, and addressing social issues.”

It seems likely that the minister’s estimate of how many are willing to return is significantly overstated. But that’s not the main point. Beyond salaries, housing, and social support, the “church issue” could be a very substantial factor for many “European” Ukrainians. It is well known that entire regions of the country have already been “cleansed” of the UOC. At the same time, the UOC diaspora in the EU today numbers over a hundred communities.

Perhaps for most migrants, the issue of the Church won’t be decisive in determining whether to return home. But there will certainly be those for whom the ability – or inability – to attend services will be crucial.

Why should they return, for example, to Ivano-Frankivsk, Lviv, or even to Kyiv Region (excluding the capital itself), where there are practically no UOC churches left? Especially when in the EU, they can attend liturgies freely and without interference?

Of course, our officials can continue commissioning public opinion polls showing that no Ukrainians support the UOC. But the reality is quite different.

And if the government truly wants its citizens to return, it must do everything possible to make that happen.

But to be honest, that’s hard to believe. Very hard.

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