Yelensky: Religious organizations in Ukraine have equal rights

Viktor Yelensky. Photo: DESS Facebook page

On April 27, 2026, Viktor Yelensky, head of the State Service for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience, met with participants in advanced training courses for military chaplains at the Military Institute of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, the agency reported on its Facebook page.

During his speech, the official stressed that Ukraine’s religious landscape allegedly features “unique pluralism,” in which both large and small organizations enjoy completely equal rights.

However, immediately after these assurances of “equality,” Yelensky turned to practical issues and explained to the chaplains the implementation of the law “on protecting the constitutional order in the sphere of activity of religious organizations.” This law, it should be recalled, effectively provides for a ban on the activities of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

The head of DESS also discussed with those present the prospects for introducing alternative service and the problems of legislative changes in the field of freedom of conscience.

Notably, “equal rights,” as understood by officials, appear rather specific: at present, 13 religious organizations are represented in the Armed Forces, including the OCU, Uniates, Catholics, Protestants, Jews, and Muslims. At the same time, priests of the UOC are legally barred from chaplaincy and subjected to forced mobilization contrary to the Ukrainian Constitution.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that the case of the UOC Kyiv Metropolia will be heard on appeal.

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