President Volodymyr Zelensky has issued a decree that results in the suspension of citizenship for a number of priests within the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church, a move that has sparked significant discussion both domestically and among international observers. The administration has framed the action as part of a broader effort to address issues tied to national security and loyalty within religious communities, emphasizing the state’s responsibility to safeguard sovereignty and public order.
The decree in question, numbered 898/2022, was issued on December 28 of the previous year and has been cited in multiple summaries as affecting thirteen clergy members associated with the UOC, including senior figures within the church hierarchy. The suspension is described as a measure that removes the formal status of Ukrainian citizenship from these individuals, a decision presented by officials as a response to concerns about allegiance and potential activities seen as counter to national interests.
Among the clergy affected are high-ranking figures who hold metropolitan titles tied to specific dioceses, with observers noting that the implications extend beyond individual cases to touch on the broader relationship between church structures and state security. The actions have been reported in connection with investigations and legal assessments surrounding alleged breaches of loyalty and cooperation with foreign or adversarial entities in the regional context.
Officials have also referenced recent oversight measures conducted within church facilities, including searches and checks carried out by national security authorities. The public briefings indicate that investigative steps were taken at locations operated by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, aimed at gathering materials relevant to security assessments and potential violations of national law or policy regarding ideological alignment and external influence.
The materials collected during these inspections are said to include items linked to political groupings whose activities are restricted in Ukraine, along with literature deemed to align with Kremlin-oriented narratives. This combination of factors has fueled debates about the influence of external actors on religious institutions and the appropriateness of maintaining external ideological content within sites that are part of the church’s infrastructure. The outcome of the ongoing inquiries and any subsequent legal decisions will likely shape ongoing discussions about church-state relations and faith communities within the country, as authorities describe a need to balance freedom of religion with constitutional duties to protect the nation’s security and public integrity. Attributions: reporting from lb.ua and official security briefings have shaped the public narrative around these developments, with many stakeholders calling for careful scrutiny and transparent accountability in how such cases are handled.