Ukraine Bans UOC-MP, Gives Nine Months to Sever Russian Ties

Aug 20, 2024, 09:13 AM

Ukraine's parliament has passed a law to ban religious organizations associated with the Russian Orthodox Church, specifically targeting the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP). The law will take effect 30 days after publication, with UOC-MP communities given nine months to sever ties with the Russian Orthodox Church. The decision is part of Ukraine's efforts to curb Russian influence and address concerns about the church's support for Russian aggression. The All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations has backed this legislative move, and the Head Rabbi of the United Jewish Communities of Ukraine, Jacob Dov Bleich, has expressed support for the ban.