by Konstantinos Menyktas
The All-Ukrainian Council of Churches, founded in 1996 and representing all religious denominations in Ukraine, has voiced strong opposition to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s reported demands concerning the protection of the Russian Church in Ukraine, that is the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) under Metropolitan Onufriy.
In a statement, the Council rejected the requests Putin allegedly made to the U.S. President during their meeting regarding the recognition of Russian as an official language in Ukraine and the provision of guarantees for the “security of the Russian Orthodox churches.”
The Council emphasized that Ukraine has consistently upheld high standards of religious freedom, even under martial law. It recalled that in 2024, the Ukrainian Parliament adopted legislation allowing for the removal of organizations affiliated with hostile states, such as the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC), through a transparent legal and judicial process.
“This decision of the Ukrainian Parliament was necessitated by the ROC’s actions: it directly participates in the war against Ukraine, has openly proclaimed as its mission the destruction of Ukrainian sovereignty, culture, and national identity, has blessed the use of weapons of mass destruction, and openly supports the killing of peaceful Ukrainian citizens as well as the illegal occupation of Ukrainian territories. Patriarch Kirill, publicly declares the Russian armed aggression against Ukraine a ‘holy war’ and has promised ‘remission of sins’ to Russian occupiers killed in this war of conquest, thereby effectively sanctioning the killing of Ukrainians, including Christians of various denominations and representatives of other religious traditions.”
The Council further noted that, to date, “the competent state authority conducts an inquiry to determine the presence or absence of subordination to the ROC, and takes further action if the affiliation of a particular Ukrainian religious organization with the Russian Orthodox Church.”
Accordingly, the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience (SSEFC) issued a Directive to the Kyiv Metropolis of the UOC to correct violations of legislation on freedom of conscience and religious organizations. On August 15, 2025, the Kyiv Metropolis responded, claiming that the Directive’s requirements “do not apply to the UOC and cannot be carried out.”
The statement also stressed that “in the territories of Ukraine temporarily occupied by Russian troops, it is precisely Ukrainian religious organizations, including the UOC, whose activities are restricted or outright banned. The Russian state, both on its own territory and even more so in the occupied Ukrainian territories, systematically disregards and violates all fundamental principles of religious freedom, as documented in numerous reports.”
The Council warned that Russia systematically uses religion—particularly the Russian Orthodox Church—as a geopolitical weapon, while religious communities in occupied territories face severe restrictions.
Reaffirming its support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and its right to determine its own future, the Council cautioned against any “asymmetric” obligations concerning language, culture, or religion.
The statement concluded with a blessing for the achievement of a just and lasting peace, rooted in international law and the principles of the UN Charter.
It is recalled that the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC – Moscow Patriarchate) has formally announced its refusal to comply with legislation adopted by the Ukrainian authorities that seeks to sever its ties with the Moscow Patriarchate. The decision was communicated in a letter from the head of the UOC, Metropolitan Onufriy, to the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience (DESS).
In his response, Metropolitan Onufriy avoids addressing the central issue raised by the Ukrainian authorities: the ongoing connection of the Church he leads with the Moscow Patriarchate. Instead, he speaks of “deliberate misinterpretation of facts and artificial ascription of characteristics not possessed by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.”
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According to media reports, on August 15, 2025, during his meeting in Alaska with U.S. President Donald Trump, the Russian ruler Putin allegedly insisted on guarantees for granting the Russian language official status in Ukraine and for “the security of Russian Orthodox churches.”
Since the beginning of its state independence, Ukraine has been known worldwide for its high standards of religious freedom, which are preserved and respected even under martial law.
In August 2024, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted the Law of Ukraine “On the Protection of the Constitutional Order in the Sphere of Activity of Religious Organizations,” which would remove legal benefits and compel deregistration of organizations controllable by offices of an aggressor nation, such as the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) in Ukraine. This decision of the Ukrainian Parliament was necessitated by the ROC’s actions: it directly participates in the war against Ukraine, has openly proclaimed as its mission the destruction of Ukrainian sovereignty, culture, and national identity, has blessed the use of weapons of mass destruction, and openly supports the killing of peaceful Ukrainian citizens as well as the illegal occupation of Ukrainian territories. The head of the ROC, Patriarch Kirill, publicly declares the Russian armed aggression against Ukraine a “holy war” and has promised “remission of sins” to Russian occupiers killed in this war of conquest, thereby effectively sanctioning the killing of Ukrainians, including Christians of various denominations and representatives of other religious traditions.
It should be noted that the Law of Ukraine “On the Protection of the Constitutional Order in the Sphere of Activity of Religious Organizations” does not provide for the automatic prohibition in Ukraine of religious organizations affiliated with the ROC and included in its structure. Rather, the law establishes democratic and legal procedures under which the competent state authority conducts an inquiry to determine the presence or absence of subordination to the ROC, and takes further action if the affiliation of a particular Ukrainian religious organization with the ROC is confirmed, in order to eliminate violations of the legislation on freedom of conscience and religious organizations. The final decision rests with an independent court, fully in accordance with the principles of a democratic society.
As of now, the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience (SSEFC) has conducted such an inquiry and established that the religious association known as the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), through its central governing body – the Kyiv Metropolis – retains the characteristics of affiliation with the ROC defined in the law. Accordingly, SSEFC issued a Directive to the Kyiv Metropolis of the UOC to eliminate violations of the legislation on freedom of conscience and religious organizations. On August 15, 2025, the Kyiv Metropolis responded to SSEFC, claiming that the requirements of the Directive do not apply to the UOC and “cannot be carried out.”
It is widely known that the Russian Federation uses religion, particularly the Russian Orthodox Church, as a weapon to pursue its neo-imperial goals in various countries. In this regard, several European states, referring to resolutions of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) and the European Parliament, including Resolution No. 2567 (2024) “Propaganda and Freedom of Information in Europe,” have introduced restrictive measures in response to the destructive activities of the ROC. In reality, the ROC’s governing structure is a Russian state institution, fully integrated into the Kremlin’s aggressive political system. It is therefore evident why the Russian ruler defends the ROC’s interests on the international stage.
We must also emphasize that in the territories of Ukraine temporarily occupied by Russian troops, it is precisely Ukrainian religious organizations, including the UOC, whose activities are restricted or outright banned. The Russian state, both on its own territory and even more so in the occupied Ukrainian territories, systematically disregards and violates all fundamental principles of religious freedom, as documented in numerous reports.
In light of the above, we, the members of the Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations, express our support for the Ukrainian state in defending Ukraine’s legitimate interests at the international level and in building relations with other states based on the principle of “reciprocity.” Ukraine must not be forced into “asymmetric” obligations concerning the special status of the Russian language, culture, the Russian Orthodox Church, or participation in international organizations. Ukraine and the Ukrainian people have earned the right to independently choose their path of further development and cooperation with international partners.
We bless the efforts aimed at achieving a genuine, just, and lasting peace in Ukraine, based on respect for the principles of the UN Charter and international law, and we ask the Almighty for success in these efforts and for help to those who carry them out.
