Persecution of UOC is “Russian disinformation”, Dumenko assures US diplomat
U.S. diplomat meets with Dumenko and Zoria. Photo: OCU
On July 29, 2025, the head of the OCU, Serhiy Petrovych Dumenko (Epifaniy), met with Julie Davis, the U.S. Chargé d’Affaires in Ukraine. Ivan Zoria and staff from the U.S. Embassy also attended the meeting.
According to reports, “the parties discussed issues of ensuring freedom of religion in Ukraine and the aggressor state’s attempts to use religious organizations in its hybrid war against our country.”
Dumenko and Zoria paid special attention to presenting the law banning the UOC. They also assured Davis that all reports of persecution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church are “Russian disinformation campaigns aimed at creating a false perception of so-called ‘religious persecution’ in Ukraine.”
Earlier, the UOJ reported that the OCU’s “Council of Bishops” praised the authorities for passing the law banning the UOC.
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