“An important step towards a ban”: MP Vyatrovich welcomed the decision of the DESS on the affiliation of the UOC with the Moscow Patriarchate

Volodymyr Viatrovych, a member of the Ukrainian parliament from the European Solidarity party, welcomed the decision of the State Service for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience to identify signs of affiliation between the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and the Moscow Patriarchate. Viatrovych believes that such conclusions of the DESS examination will help to ban the UOC more quickly. He stated this on the air of Espreso.

«This is an important step towards the eventual implementation of the law passed last year, which (aims to — ed.) ultimately stop the activities of the Russian Orthodox Church in Ukraine. After this decision, which we have now received from the State Service for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience, more time will be given to eliminate these signs of affiliation — it is obvious that they will not be eliminated. After that, we can move on to banning the activities of this structure on the territory of Ukraine. Such a complex legal path is provided for by this law, which was adopted last year, but it is important that we already start moving along this path, rather than treading water. Unfortunately, the last few months have seen some completely incomprehensible and unjustified delays in the implementation of this law. Yesterday’s announcement is a signal that the law is beginning to be implemented,» — he said.

On July 8, 2025, the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience published a report according to which the Kyiv Metropolis of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church is recognized as affiliated with the Russian Orthodox Church. In their conclusions, DESS experts refer mainly to the statutory documents of the Russian Orthodox Church and their own politically biased assessments. At the same time, the State Service has practically ignored the decisions of the Council of the UOC in Feofaniya adopted in 2022, by which the Church separated its activities from the Russian Church.