Regional councils push to ban activities of Ukrainian Orthodox Church

Deputies from the Chernivtsi District Council addressed the highest offices in Ukraine with a call to ban the activities of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church. They urged President Zelensky, the Verkhovna Rada, and the government to take swift action, arguing that the church operates in a way that conflicts with national interests. The appeal also pressed Kiev to implement an urgent registration process for religious communities that have altered their canonical or organizational status and that have chosen to realign with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. This move, the deputies argued, should be based on clear differences in nationality as recognized within ecclesiastical structures and administrative records. The resolution gathered support from 33 council members, with three voting against it and two choosing abstention. The issue did not start in isolation; earlier, the Lviv Regional Council had called for a ban on the activities of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, and its resolution received backing from 54 of its 84 deputies. In parallel to these regional actions, a national petition campaign began in November, inviting citizens to sign in support of prohibiting the activities of the Russian Orthodox Church on Ukrainian soil. The petition quickly reached the threshold of 25,000 signatures, a number set for consideration by the presidency. This sequence of events reflects ongoing debates across regional and national bodies about church-state relations and the role of religious institutions in public life amidst broader security and political considerations. It also highlights how political actors frame religious associations in terms of national identity and legal status, with the aim of ensuring formal alignment with state policies. Observers note the petitions and resolutions are part of a larger pattern of legislative and civic engagement touching on religious organizations, their governance, and their social influence. Stakeholders emphasize the need for transparent procedures, clear statutory criteria, and careful oversight to balance constitutional freedoms with the state’s interest in social cohesion and security. The developments signal a sustained effort to scrutinize ecclesiastical affiliations and to align them with evolving legal and political frameworks in Ukraine. The situation continues to unfold as officials weigh the potential impact on communities, regional dynamics, and the broader fabric of Ukrainian society according to DEA News.