Reexamination of the UOC's Ties to the Moscow Patriarchate
Acting on a directive from the Sixth Administrative Court of Appeals, the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience (known by its Ukrainian acronym DESS) has revisited the approval of a religious studies expert report concerning the statute of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) and its connection to the Moscow Patriarchate. During this review, DESS dismissed a request from the UOC's Kyiv Metropolis to remove the expert panel, deeming the motion groundless.
Expert Findings and Their Implications
Conducted between 2022 and 2023, the expert analysis aimed to determine whether the UOC maintains a church-canonical link with the Moscow Patriarchate. The specialists involved came from leading non-denominational educational and research institutions across Ukraine. DESS positioned itself as an institutional safeguard, ensuring that personal biases of the expert group members did not influence the outcome.
“DESS, for its part, acted as an institutional guarantor that personal views of the Expert Group members had no impact on the religious studies expertise, taking responsibility for ensuring its impartial and professional conduct.” - DESS
The 2023 expert conclusion received unanimous support from all group members, reflecting a consensus in their findings. As a result, DESS concluded that the motion to disqualify the experts lacked any valid basis.
“The conclusion was unanimously backed by all members of the expert group... Therefore, in the absence of any objective or subjective criteria indicating bias, DESS reached a well-founded conclusion that the challenge to the expert group members was without merit.” - DESS
The Sixth Administrative Court of Appeals had partially upheld a lawsuit filed by the UOC (Moscow Patriarchate) against DESS and its head, Viktor Yelensky, in which the Moscow-linked church sought to overturn the religious studies expert report on its statute. Later, the UOC's Kyiv Metropolis launched a separate legal action against DESS, demanding the annulment of a DESS order issued on July 17, 2025, which called for rectifying legal violations.
As of late March 2026, no organization that had ignored the order to eliminate signs of affiliation had its activities terminated through court proceedings. This indicates that legal processes in this area remain ongoing, drawing significant public attention.
The question of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church's relationship with the Moscow Patriarchate continues to spark widespread debate across society. The outcomes of the religious studies expertise, along with DESS's rejection of the expert disqualification request, underscore the critical need for independent evaluation in this matter. Future legal steps could substantially reshape Ukraine's religious landscape, particularly as issues of church autonomy and national identity dominate public discourse.
As the situation surrounding the Ukrainian Orthodox Church continues to evolve, it is important to consider the broader implications of external influences on domestic religious matters. Recent statements by political figures, such as allegations of pressure from U.S. officials, highlight the complex interplay between international relations and national religious policies. Understanding these dynamics can provide valuable context to the ongoing discussions regarding the UOC and its affiliations.