MP Viatrovych: Law on UOC ban begins to be implemented

MP Volodymyr Viatrovych. Photo: Facebook

On July 9, 2025, MP Volodymyr Viatrovych stated on the "Espresso" TV channel that the conclusions of the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience (DESS) regarding the connections of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church with the Moscow Patriarchate have become a signal for the implementation of the law aimed at banning the UOC in Ukraine.

In his speech, the deputy, referring to SBU materials, claimed that the interaction of certain UOC representatives with the Moscow Patriarchate allegedly has a systemic nature, and therefore, in his opinion, it is necessary to cease the activities of the UOC as a structure allegedly connected with the ROC. 

"This is an important step toward ending the activities of the Moscow Patriarchate and ultimately depriving it of the ability to operate in Ukraine," the deputy stated.

"We see that this law does not remain merely on paper. After the signal from the State Service, it remains only to fulfill the formalities to launch the mechanism of its application," the deputy noted.

According to Viatrovych, this process should become part of a "complex legal path", which, in his opinion, requires political determination. "It is important that the authorities do not stand still but start acting," he added.

He also reiterated the thesis of the "systemic influence of the ROC" and called the UOC a "structure hindering the development of Ukrainian society".

Thus, Viatrovych actually confirmed that the campaign against the UOC is entering an active phase and may lead to significant changes in the country's religious policy.

It should be noted that the DESS conclusions are mainly based on the interpretation of ROC documents, while the position and statutory changes of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church itself were not taken into account.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that DESS detected the affiliation of the Kyiv Metropolis of the UOC with the ROC.

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