Kyiv Regional Council pledges to facilitate seizures of UOC churches in favor of OCU

The Kyiv Regional Council has adopted a decision aimed at liquidating the communities of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the region. This decision was made in the context of existing legislation that prohibits the activities of religious organizations affiliated with the Russian Orthodox Church. Thus, the Kyiv Regional Council undertakes to facilitate the so-called transitions of UOC communities to the OCU in every possible way.

According to Interfax-Ukraine, the decision “On the implementation of the legislation of Ukraine on the protection of the constitutional order in the field of activities of religious organizations in the Kyiv region” was initiated by MP Roman Titikal from the European Solidarity party. According to him, between 2019 and 2025, 307 religious communities in the Kyiv region have already been re-registered from the UOC to the OCU. However, despite the decision of the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience of August 27, 2025, to recognize the Kyiv Metropolis of the UOC as affiliated with a foreign religious organization whose activities are prohibited in Ukraine, more than 300 UOC communities continue to function in the region.

As part of the decision, the Kyiv Regional Council recommended that district military (state) administrations and local governments “actively assist religious communities in the process of changing their subordination.” The decision includes informing citizens about the procedure for changing affiliation, assistance in preparing the necessary documents, and constant monitoring of the use of municipal property to prevent its exploitation by entities whose activities are prohibited by Ukrainian law. Mr. Titikalo emphasized that these measures are being taken “within the framework of the Constitution and laws of Ukraine” and “in the interests of national security, citizens’ rights and protection of Ukrainian statehood.”

Earlier, we reported that regional media in Pereyaslav (Kyiv region) demanded that the communities of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, where supporters of the OCU seized churches, be banned from holding services in adapted premises.