Report on violations of religious freedom in Ukraine published in Europe
Austrian researchers note that the UOC is "under constant surveillance and suspicion" in Ukraine.
The Austrian non-governmental organization OIDAC (Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination Against Christians in Europe) has published a report highlighting an increase in violence against Christians, both in Europe and in Ukraine.
"Since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine in 2014 and the subsequent full-scale invasion by Russia in 2022, there has been a growing number of religious freedom violations within the country. This situation is particularly concerning as Ukraine has generally ranked among the countries with the best religious freedom record in the Eastern European and post-Soviet regions," the report states.
According to the report, Ukraine now ranks 10th among countries with the highest number of documented hate crimes against Christians, agead of only Russia.
It is noted that the issue of religious freedom in Ukraine is very complex by nature, as it intertwines elements of ethnicity, politics, and inevitably, religion.
Researchers emphasize that the major Christian denominations in Ukraine have faced restrictions on religious freedom since the beginning of the conflict.
In particular, the situation in Orthodoxy, especially regarding the creation of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), was initially politicized. However, despite the increase in parish "transfers" to the OCU since 2022, "it appears that the UOC-MP continues to hold the position of the largest denomination."
Austrian human rights activists also report that the Ukrainian Orthodox Church is "under constant surveillance and suspicion" in Ukraine. In their view, this is related to the perceived threat to national security.
Analyzing data from the Ukrainian Institute for Religious Freedom, OIDAC points to the disproportionate destruction of churches during the conflict. The main cause of church destruction has been missile and artillery strikes.
"These kinds of attacks targeting religious sites with no military value raise a number of religious freedom concerns," the Austrian organization adds, mentioning the destruction of the historic Transfiguration Cathedral of the UOC in Odesa.
"It is not possible to know if the attack was deliberate or a result of missile malfunction. Nevertheless, this incident triggered widespread condemnation and outrage as it stands to reason that such an event would not have occurred without the war," OIDAC concludes.
As the UOJ previously reported, the OIDAC report states that between September 2022 and August 2023, the number of incidents, including acts of vandalism, attacks on churches, and threats to life, increased significantly in Europe – by 44%.
