Lobbyists of Ukrainian authorities in the USA called the defense of the UOC a threat and "Achilles' heel"

In the United States, at an emergency meeting of representatives of lobbying circles supporting the Ukrainian government, the activities of American Orthodox organizations advocating for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) were recognized as a significant threat. These actions have been called “our Achilles’ heel” because they are seen by lobbyists as contributing to the narrative of religious persecution in Ukraine.

According to SPJ in the U.S., citing a confidential document from the “American Coalition for Ukraine,” the meeting was held in response to a successful “Day of Action” by Orthodox activists. The memorandum notes that the topic of criticizing the Ukrainian government for persecuting the UOC is extremely sensitive and vulnerable to their positions.

The report also identifies “key players shaping the narrative” about the harassment. Prominent among them are SPJ and the director of government relations for the Society of St. John, Catherine Whiteford. Their activities, according to the paper, actively contribute to the dissemination of information about religious persecution.

The document pays special attention to the statements of Congressman Joe Wilson, made after the visit of Orthodox Christians to Congress. It is noted that concerned believers, offended by Wilson’s accusations, made counter-accusations of “anti-Christian intolerance.” The document’s authors argue that this backlash from the faithful has “reinforced the narrative of religious persecution,” demonstrating “how aggressively the narrative is enforced” after attempts to challenge it.

The memorandum also analyzes the tactics of Orthodox activists, calling the appearance of “priests in cassocks on Capitol Hill” and the use of “icons, crosses, and prayer symbols” a “common tactics.” According to the authors of the document, these visual images “undermine skepticism about politics” and “are perceived as an ‘attack on genuine faith'”, which significantly complicates the work of Ukrainian lobbyists in the United States.

We will remind, earlier the American Congressman Eli Crane from Arizona on December 16, 2025 made a call to stop persecution of Christians and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) in Ukraine. In the congressman’s opinion, the country is displaying alarming authoritarian tendencies, which are in sharp contrast to the fundamental principles of Western civilization and are of particular concern.