Russia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Vasily Nebenzya, asserted that Ukrainian authorities are attempting to leverage pressure tactics to compel priests of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) to align with separatist movements. This claim was conveyed through TASS, the Russian state news agency.
Nebenzya stated that the state employs coercive methods aimed at monks, pressuring them to change their religious affiliation. His remarks framed the situation as a religious pressure campaign rather than a mere policy dispute, underscoring the use of blackmail to drive religious actors toward secessionist stances, according to his account reported by TASS.
In earlier remarks, Nebenzya described what he called a clear violation of universal and constitutional rights of believers in Ukraine. He framed the issue as persecution and violence against followers of the UOC and noted that Russia is monitoring events in Ukraine, including the role of international organizations. He also alleged that Ukrainian authorities not only permit but actively promote the persecution of UOC adherents, and he suggested that they contribute to a climate of Islamophobia within the country, as reported by TASS.
There have also been reports from Kyiv indicating that calls were made to the Verkhovna Rada to ban the UOC’s activities within Ukraine, a development Nebenzya referenced as part of the broader pattern of pressure on religious communities in the region. According to his account, sanctions or prohibitions could be used to restrict the church’s public presence and practice, further aggravating tensions in the religious landscape of Ukraine.