Investigation of Religious Organizations
Ukraine's State Service for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience is investigating religious organizations for signs of affiliation with the Russian Orthodox Church, whose activities are banned in the country. This scrutiny is part of broader national security measures following Russia's full-scale invasion. The inquiry has so far identified three organizations with suspected ties:
- The Kyiv Metropolis of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church
- The Korets Holy Trinity Women's Stavropegial Monastery of the Moscow Patriarchate
- The Holy Intercession Golosiyiv Hermitage Monastery of the Kyiv Metropolis of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church
As of March 30, 2026, the State Service has filed administrative lawsuits against two of these organizations, but no court has yet ordered the cessation of their activities.
Systematic Review and Court Proceedings
Since spring 2025, the State Service has been conducting a systematic review to detect links between religious organizations and the Russian Orthodox Church. At the start of 2025, the network of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate comprised 10,118 entities, including:
- 9,792 religious communities
- 210 monasteries
- 34 brotherhoods
- 17 missions
- 16 theological educational institutions
On August 29, 2025, the State Service filed a lawsuit with the Sixth Administrative Court of Appeal seeking to terminate the religious organization 'Kyiv Metropolis of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.' A similar lawsuit against the Korets Holy Trinity Women's Stavropegial Monastery of the Moscow Patriarchate followed on November 4, 2025. Court proceedings for both organizations are ongoing.
In a countermove, the Kyiv Metropolis of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate has itself filed a lawsuit against the State Service. It seeks to have the Service's directive of July 17, 2025, declared unlawful and revoked. The Russian Orthodox Church's activities are prohibited in Ukraine under Article 3 of the Law 'On Protection of the Constitutional Order in the Sphere of Activity of Religious Organizations,' as it is viewed as an ideological extension of the aggressor state and a participant in war crimes.
Consequently, the State Service continues its work to identify and halt the operations of religious organizations potentially affiliated with the Russian Orthodox Church. However, to date, no organization has been formally dissolved by a court ruling.
This situation underscores the critical importance of monitoring religious organizations in Ukraine, particularly within the context of the ongoing conflict with the Russian Federation.
Authorities continue to implement measures to ensure national security, though the judicial processes involved can be lengthy, complicating swift action in this area. Religious organizations with connections to the aggressor state remain under close surveillance, which may significantly impact their future operations within Ukraine.