Yelensky assures of a high level of religious freedom in Ukraine
Yelensky speaks about an unprecedented level of freedom of faith in Ukraine. Photo: ВESS website
On August 25, 2025, in Kyiv, the All-Ukrainian Forum on Conservative Policy Faith, Family, Freedom was held, where participants discussed issues of religious freedom, reports the DESS website.
Among the participants were: head of DESS Viktor Yelensky, Secretary General and CEO of the Baptist World Alliance (USA) Elijah M. Brown, head of the International Alliance on Freedom of Religion Robert Rehak, spokesman of the OCU Yevstraty Zoria, former Chief of Staff of the U.S. House of Representatives Stephen Moore, Supreme Mufti of Crimea Ayder Rustemov, director of the Department of Religious Freedom of Mission “Eurasia” and former pastor of the “Grace” Church (Melitopol) Mykhailo Brytsyn.
At the event, Yelensky assured that “unlike most post-Soviet countries, which first proclaimed freedom of religion but then in fact restricted this right, Ukraine has remained on the fundamental foundations of religious freedom in the sense proclaimed by international documents in this sphere.”
He also stated that the Russian Orthodox Church “declared its task to be the destruction of Ukrainian statehood, culture, and identity,” and for this reason the Ukrainian state adopted Law 3894 banning the UOC.
The DESS message also noted that Yelensky “debunked the main myths regarding the injunction against the Kyiv Metropolis of the UOC, which are being spread by those seeking to push the faithful of the UOC into conflict with the Ukrainian state and society.”
Earlier, the UOJ reported that Yelensky called all those who criticized the law banning the UOC “useful idiots.”
Read also
OCU activist admits breaking into UOC church in Sloviansk
Oleksandr Onyshchenko said that the OCU held its first "service" at the Seraphim Church, which had previously been broken into by forcing the locks and doors.
Archimandrite Ioustinos, longtime keeper of Jacob's Well, dies in Jordan
Archimandrite Ioustinos (Mamallos), the keeper of Jacob's Well in Nablus, has died after a prolonged illness.
Pilgrim group from Kyiv Theological Seminary visits Mount Athos
KTS students are making a pilgrimage to the holy sites of Romania, Greece, Mount Athos and Italy.
UOC cathedral celebrates its patronal feast in Ternopil
The service in the cathedral of the Holy Martyrs Faith, Hope, Love and their mother Sophia was led by Metropolitan Serhii of Ternopil, concelebrated by four hierarchs.
MinCulture marks centenary of Soviet-era reserve at Lavra's Refectory Church
Representatives of the Ministry of Culture presented awards to the Reserve's employees on the occasion of the anniversary at the Refectory Church of the Lavra.
Conference to mark 1700th anniversary of Christianity adoption held in Georgia
In Georgia, representatives of the Church and the state noted the defining role of Christianity in the country's cultural development.