OCU cleric threatens UOC with problems for discrediting Ukrainian religious policy in the U.S.

The rector of the Open Orthodox University of St. Sophia the Wisdom and cleric of the OCU, Heorhii Kovalenko, criticized the interview given by Vadym Novynskyi to American blogger Tucker Carlson, in which Novynskyi described alleged persecution of the UOC. According to Kovalenko, the interview is «part of a large-scale Russian propaganda operation aimed at discrediting Ukraine in the eyes of the American religious audience.» Kovalenko made these remarks in an interview with journalist Dmytro Tuzov as part of the podcast Antithesis, published on the NV (Novoye Vremya) platform.

The OCU cleric noted that spreading such narratives through influential American commentators poses a threat to Ukraine’s image among Christian communities in the United States.

In Kovalenko’s view, the key messages of the interview were not religious, but political. He believes that «Kremlin narratives» were voiced in the conversation—about dictatorship in Ukraine, a «secret police,» military seizure of churches, and the alleged illegitimacy of the Ukrainian government. He also suggested that the interview might have greater influence not in the U.S., but among the faithful of the UOC within Ukraine.

Kovalenko questioned the independence of the UOC, stating that public appeals by its hierarchs, even on official letterhead, are insufficient to prove a break from the jurisdiction of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC). In his opinion, personal statements from bishops, a formal decision by the Church Council, and clear legal documents are necessary—otherwise, he said, the state’s religious affairs expertise would conclude that the Church remains affiliated with Moscow.

“Let’s wait for the conclusion of the expert review. Then, most likely, there will be some court decisions that will suspend the legal activity of this church. But let us remind Tucker Carlson, Novynskyi, and all those concerned about alleged religious persecution: none of these laws or decisions affect religious activity. If people want to pray to God—in Ukraine, that is not forbidden. You can pray to any god. But being part of a machine of hostile propaganda or part of the Russian Church while having access to historical and architectural monuments—this will no longer be allowed. So I think this process is just beginning; let’s see how it develops,” Kovalenko said.

As a reminder, during his conversation with well-known American journalist Tucker Carlson, Archdeacon of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and former Member of Parliament Vadym Novynskyi claimed that the Church in Ukraine is facing unprecedented levels of discrimination. He particularly emphasized what he described as violent church seizures, which, according to him, have become a daily reality.