Verkhovna Rada passes law officially banning UOC priests from being chaplains

On February 22, 2024, deputies of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine voted in favor of Law No. 10313 «On Amendments to Certain Laws of Ukraine on Ensuring the Rights of Servicemen and Police Officers to Social Protection». One of the clauses of this law explicitly prohibits the clergy of the UOC to be chaplains in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This was reported by the website of the Institute for Religious Freedom.

«Cannot be a military chaplain a person belonging to a religious organization (association), which in accordance with Article 12 of the Law of Ukraine «On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations» is recognized as part of the structure (is part) of a religious organization (association), the governing center (management) of which is located in the state, which is recognized by law as having committed military aggression against Ukraine and / or temporarily occupied part of the territory of Ukraine», — stated in part 3 of paragraph 7 of the updated law.

It is worth noting that according to Article 12 of the Law of Ukraine «On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations», lawmakers consider the Ukrainian Orthodox Church to be a religious organization whose governing center is located in the state, which is recognized by law as having committed military aggression against Ukraine. Despite the fact that the UOC itself actively protests against this statement, the state continues to adopt anti-church laws with this statement in mind.