Court denies UOC protection from State Ethnopolitics orders
Judge’s gavel. Photo: Open sources
On September 18, 2025, the court refused to protect the UOC from the actions of the State Service for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience (DESS). The Church had asked the court to forbid the agency from sending directives to church organizations but was denied.
Currently, the court is considering a lawsuit filed by the DESS against the Kyiv Metropolia of the UOC, seeking to terminate the activity of the religious organization.
On September 16, a UOC representative filed a petition for injunctive relief, requesting the court to prohibit the DESS from sending orders demanding “elimination of violations” to organizations belonging to or affiliated with the Kyiv Metropolia.
The petition argued that failure to apply protective measures could lead to the termination of 154 religious organizations within or linked to the UOC structure.
It should be recalled that on August 29, the DESS filed a lawsuit seeking to ban the UOC’s activities. The court is also being asked to transfer the Church’s property, funds, and other assets (except sacred items) to the state. The case is scheduled for hearing on September 30.
Read also
In Spain, murderer moved to women's prison after claiming to be female
A Spaniard convicted of a series of brutal murders has secured a transfer to a women's prison allegedly based on a change of gender identity.
Georgian Patriarchate warns about fake social media pages
The Georgian Orthodox Church has stated that unknown individuals are using official symbols to create fake social media pages.
Court extends round-the-clock house arrest for Metropolitan Arseniy
The Chechelivsky Court of Dnipro left the abbot of the Sviatohirsk Lavra under house arrest and allowed him to attend medical procedures without separate permission.
OCU shows number of parishioners in seized church of Bezuhlivka
About 15 people with flags stood at the first "service" at St. Michael's Church after the seizure.
In Kyiv, OCU and UGCC сhaplains given an introductory tour of synagogue
Ukraine’s chief rabbi said that clergy of the OCU, UGCC, and RCC familiarized themselves with Jewish tradition at a synagogue.
OCU outraged that Lepliavo parish removed church property before seizure
The Cherkasy Eparchy of the OCU complained that after the fake “transfer” in Lepliavo, UOC faithful left them nothing but bare walls.