The State Service for Ethnopolitics has launched an investigation into the Cherkasy Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church to determine whether it is affiliated with the Russian Orthodox Church

On November 13, 2026, a specialized research team formed by order of the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience (DESS) began investigating the activities of the Administration of the Cherkasy Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The purpose of the investigation is to determine whether there are any signs that this religious organization is affiliated with foreign entities whose activities are prohibited by law in Ukraine.

According to the DESS website, the decision to begin the investigation was made based on the agency’s Order No. N-106/11 dated June 19, 2026. The Service’s actions are carried out in strict accordance with the requirements of the Law of Ukraine “On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations.”

The agency emphasizes that, pursuant to Article 5-1 of the relevant law, the activities of organizations exhibiting signs of subordination to or affiliation with foreign religious centers—whose activities are restricted or prohibited for the purpose of protecting the constitutional order—are prohibited on the territory of Ukraine. Experts intend to conduct a thorough analysis of the situation, and the final results of the investigation will be presented to the public in the near future.

As a reminder, the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience (DESS) officially accused the administration of the Zaporizhzhia Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of failing to comply with the requirement to sever ties with the Russian Orthodox Church and the Kyiv Metropolis of the UOC.