Kyiv, Ukraine — In a significant legislative move, Ukraine’s parliament has approved a contentious law that directly impacts religious organizations affiliated with Russia. The Verkhovna Rada passed Law No. 8371 with a robust majority of 265 votes, signaling a bold step toward severing ecclesiastical ties with Moscow amid ongoing geopolitical tensions. This new legislation, pending approval from President Volodymyr Zelensky, specifically targets the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) and its affiliated institutions in Ukraine, aiming to terminate their activities within the country.
The decision garnered support from a broad political spectrum, with votes from both President Zelensky’s ruling Servant of the People party and the opposition European Solidarity party led by former President Petro Poroshenko. However, the law faced opposition from members of the former pro-Russian Opposition Platform for Life and Peace party, who viewed it as an attack primarily on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), which maintains a historical administrative link to the Moscow Patriarchate.
The enactment of this law comes against a backdrop of deep historical and religious entwinement between Ukraine and Russia. For centuries, the Kyiv Metropolitanate was a part of the Patriarchate of Moscow, a relationship that has been fraught with political overtones, particularly after the annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the onset of armed conflict in Eastern Ukraine. The Ukrainian Orthodox Church had declared administrative independence from Moscow, but tangible separations have been complex due to enduring ties and shared religious heritage.
Critics, especially those sympathetic to Russian narratives, have labeled the law as a form of religious persecution, fearing it might marginalize the Russian-oriented Orthodox community in Ukraine. Nonetheless, supporters of the law argue it is a necessary measure to prevent religious institutions from being exploited as vessels for foreign influence and political maneuvering by Moscow.
The law stipulates that any religious organization found to be in cooperation with entities from “aggressor states,” a term Kyiv uses for Russia, can be subjected to sanctions, including the cessation of their operations in Ukraine. This framework establishes a mechanism through which the state can intervene in cases where religious organizations fail to sever such affiliations voluntarily.
“The essence of this law is not about prohibition but about ensuring that religious organizations are not misused for political ends,” explained Heorhiy Kovalenko, a cleric of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine who formerly belonged to the Moscow Patriarchate. According to Kovalenko, the law targets organizations continuing unacceptable affiliations and not the faith or its practices directly.
Amidst the potential legal ramifications, there is a growing consensus among ecclesiastical and secular scholars that the UOC must take definitive steps to reform its governing documents and operational structures to reflect its administrative independence from Moscow. “The UOC needs to expunge the charter of the ROC from its constitution and withdraw officially from its synods,” noted religious scholar Andriy Smyrnov.
While the process to enforce this law could extend over months or even years, particularly given Ukraine’s currently overburdened judicial system, the implications are immediate. Religious entities are now tasked with demonstrating their compliance with national legislation and their commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty, with serious legal consequences awaiting those who fail to align with the new regulations.
This legislative move also opens the door for further religious reshuffling in Ukraine. The Orthodox Church of Ukraine, recognized and independent of Moscow, might see an influx of parishes and clergy from the UOC transitioning under its aegis in the pursuit of canonical and national alignment.
As Ukraine continues to navigate the turbulent waters of war and political sovereignty, this law marks a pivotal moment in its journey to define the role of religion in its quest for national integrity and cultural independence. It underscores a broader struggle for self-definition in the face of enduring external influences and internal divisions.