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What did Kyiv do about Russia-linked churches?
Summary
A look back at the early December 2022 decree and bill targeting religious organisations with ties to Russia.
What did Ukraine's leadership decide about Russia-linked religious organisations in the days before 5 December 2022? By then, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had taken two steps, both dated 2 December 2022.
On that day, he signed a decree banning religious organisations with links to Russia and imposing personal sanctions on their representatives. He also announced that the government would draft a law banning churches affiliated with Russia. He said this was necessary to counter Russian government efforts to weaken Ukraine from within.
Also on 2 December 2022, as reported at the time, Zelenskyy submitted a bill to the Verkhovna Rada that would formally prohibit any activity in Ukraine by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate).
Taken together, the measures combined an executive decree with sanctions and a legislative proposal aimed at a specific church. By 5 December 2022, the bill was before parliament.
