DESS to begin checking Kyiv Metropolis of UOC for ties with RF on May 20
Head of DESS Viktor Yelensky. Photo: ukrinform
On May 17, 2025, the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience (DESS) reported on its Facebook page the start of inspections regarding the presence of signs of affiliation of the Kyiv Metropolis of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) with a foreign religious organization whose activities are banned in Ukraine. The State Service stated that the investigation will begin on May 20.
The basis for conducting such inspections is the approved resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine No. 543 dated May 9, 2025.
Paragraph 8 of this resolution describes the procedure for conducting an investigation regarding the presence of signs of affiliation of a religious organization with a foreign religious organization whose activities are banned in Ukraine.
As reported by the UOJ, according to resolution No. 543, the State Service is empowered to conduct investigations of religious organizations both on its own initiative and upon requests from government authorities, local self-government, citizen associations, and other individuals.
Read also
Priest to Dumenko: What are your fruits – tears, fights, forged documents?
A UOC cleric responded to statements by OCU head Epiphany Dumenko about the “restoration” of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.
In Dnipro, OCU "hierarchs" had a prayer breakfast with Jews and Catholics
About 400 participants, including representatives of Dumenko's structure, held a joint prayer breakfast in Dnipro.
The Phanar's head discussed the shelling of Ukrainian churches with the Greek consul in Kherson
The consul was impressed by the Ecumenical Patriarch's awareness of Ukraine.
Petition launched in Ukraine to protect Christian shrines from blasphemy
The initiative provides for amendments to the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
Seized St. Alexander Nevsky Church in Odesa will be renamed, OCU rep says
During the seizure of the church in Odesa, OCU supporters allegedly assaulted the secretary of the Odesa Eparchy of the UOC.
In Brussels, UCCRO members speak about anti-UOC actions of authorities
UCCRO members justified the state's actions against the UOC, calling them “protection of freedom of religion”.