Ukraine's State Service for Ethnopolitics "has identified signs of affiliation" between the Boryspil Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and the Russian Orthodox Church

The State Service of Ukraine for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience (DESS) has officially confirmed the discovery of evidence of affiliation between the Administration of the Boryspil Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and a foreign religious organization, whose activities are prohibited on the territory of Ukraine—a reference to the Russian Orthodox Church. According to DESS, the corresponding decision was made following a special investigation conducted since August 2026.

The investigation found that “the Boryspil Diocese is a structural unit of the UOC and is part of the Kyiv Metropolis.“ Under current legislation, this entity is recognized as affiliated with a foreign religious center whose activities are prohibited in the country. Experts emphasize that the diocese’s founding documents explicitly confirm its subordination to the Kyiv Metropolis.

Furthermore, according to the State Security Service (DESS), the investigation revealed that the charter of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) provides for the participation of the head of the Boryspil Diocese in the ROC’s statutory governing bodies. This order was issued on the basis of the provisions of the Law of Ukraine “On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations,” as well as in accordance with the requirements of legislation on the protection of the constitutional order in the sphere of religious associations’ activities.

As a reminder, it was previously reported that the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience (DESS) officially announced the launch of a detailed investigation into the activities of the Administration of the Balt Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.