The Security Service of Ukraine says that since 2022, a total of 61 criminal cases have been opened against clergy of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church. This information comes from the SBU’s official Telegram channel.
Over the same period, more than 40 complex counterintelligence measures have been carried out in relation to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Courts have handed down seven sentences against seven clergy members in these cases.
The SBU states that roughly 250 UOC clergy were banned from entering Ukrainian territory, and 17 church representatives faced sanctions.
Late last year, President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree introducing new sanctions targeting representatives of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The order identifies religious organizations connected to centers of influence in the Russian Federation as prohibited within Ukraine.
Meanwhile, there have been developments concerning the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra administration. The head priest, Metropolitan Pavel Lebed, remains under suspicion under two articles of the Ukrainian Criminal Code, involving incitement of inter-religious hatred and justification of armed aggression by the Russian Federation.
These actions appear in the broader context of ongoing state security and law enforcement efforts aimed at ensuring national security and public order. Observers note that the measures reflect a policy focus on monitoring religious institutions with links to external influence and the potential implications for regulatory and freedom of worship considerations within Ukraine. The situation continues to be watched as the government emphasizes safeguarding sovereignty and regional stability while navigating the complex landscape of church-state relations and security policy.