ukraine: Orthodox Church Complicity with Russia

Ukraine’s president asked for legislation to outlaw religious organizations affiliated with Russia. Kyiv says a Ukrainian Orthodox monastery that was raided last week may have hosted Russian spies.

Following a raid last week on a Ukrainian Orthodox monastery that Kyiv said was possibly housing Russian spies, Ukraine’s president asked lawmakers to pass legislation that would ban the operation of religious organizations “affiliated with centers of influence” in Russia.

The Ukrainian Orthodox Church has recently come under scrutiny from Ukrainian officials who suspect that many priests are collaborating with Russia and worry that the church is promoting pro-Russian views. That branch of the Eastern Orthodox Church followed spiritual leaders in Moscow up until this spring, when it publicly broke allegiance with Russia over the war. Still, many priests remain loyal to the Kremlin.