The Ukrainian parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, has moved to impose a ten year set of sanctions on Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia along with other figures tied to the Russian Orthodox Church. The action targets a broad spectrum of measures aimed at constraining church activities and financial dealings within Ukraine.
The deputy Oleksiy Goncharenko confirmed the Rada’s decision, stating that the sanctions now await review and formal approval by Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council before taking effect.
The sanctions package extends beyond Patriarch Kirill to include key church officials such as Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, head of the external church relations department of the Moscow Patriarchate, Archpriest Nikolai Balashov, and Metropolitan Tikhon of Pskov and Porkhov. The measures enumerate nineteen items, spanning asset freezes, restrictions on commercial operations, limits on the use of Ukraine’s radio frequency spectrum, suspensions of cultural exchanges and scientific cooperation, and controls on cash withdrawals from payment cards. Other provisions cover cancellation of official visits, visa denials, the revocation of state honors, and a range of additional punitive steps.
Russian Orthodox Church leader blacklisted by EU
The EU’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, has voiced support for placing Patriarch Kirill on the European Union sanctions list due to his stance on the conflict in Ukraine. In remarks to journalists, Borrell indicated that Kirill should appear on the EU’s list and noted that the process of compiling the list continues. He added that the European Commission should be given the opportunity to finalize the effort. The possibility of EU sanctions against Kirill has been under discussion since late April, with Lithuania initiating the push for action.
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis described Kirill as someone who is engaged in the destruction of the spiritual life rather than pastoral care. He also mentioned that Lithuania is considering separating its own Orthodox Church from the Moscow Patriarchate as part of broader religious and political repercussions. Hungary has signaled opposition to sanctions against church leaders, and a new sanctions package is anticipated in the coming days.
“Patriarch out of politics”
The Russian Orthodox Church has responded to the prospect of sanctions by emphasizing that Kirill remains outside political struggles and that penalizing him would be both inappropriate and puzzling. Church officials argue that Kirill speaks from a pastoral standpoint and that many members of the church are citizens of various countries, highlighting the global reach of the church’s congregations. In a related statement, Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, criticized the EU’s approach to listing Kirill and questioned the justification behind such a move.
Some European voices have joked about symbolism, with Borrell suggesting creative examples while Zakharova countered by hinting that Europe should not underestimate broader political theatrics. The dialogue illustrates the tension between political sanctions and religious leadership perceived as having transnational influence.
Ukrainian Church versus Russian Orthodox Church
Earlier in the year, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church requested Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople to take steps toward dethroning Kirill. Epiphanius, the head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, accused Kirill of backing the military operation in Ukraine and of promoting doctrinal positions that Epiphanius labels as heresy. The Ukrainian church has called for breaking away from spiritual ties with the Moscow Patriarchate, urging a reorientation of ecclesiastical allegiance toward other centers of authority.
Epiphanius urged the Ecumenical Patriarch to condemn what he described as the moral crimes attributed to Kirill and to strip him of the patriarchal throne. He characterized the concept of a unified Russian spiritual space as a deviant movement and accused Kirill of subordinating church interests to national politics. On May 24, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church’s Bishops’ Council convened in Kiev, and representatives urged the primate to hold Kirill to canonical accountability and to remove him from his position as patriarch. The ongoing tension underscores the broader struggle over church governance and the role of religious leadership in national conflicts.