Ukrainian President Zelensky is seeking to continue the “spiritual independence” of the country by continuing bans against religious organizations “affiliated with centers of influence” in Russia. The Ukrainian president signed a decree on December 2 implementing sanctions against those involved with religious organizations linked with Russia, such as the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate.
From American Military News:
The sanctions packages contain 12 types of restrictions, including a complete block of assets and a ban on trade operations. The Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) has conducted searches recently at the facilities of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in which law enforcement officers discovered “a large number of anti-Ukrainian materials” and documents confirming the presence of Russian citizenship in the leadership of diocesan structures. ... The SBU continued its raids on December 2, saying it searched at least five parishes belonging to a branch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The Ukrainian Orthodox Church urged the government “not to ignite an internal war” and called the accusations of collaborative activities “unproven and groundless.”
