Ukraine's parliament voted on Tuesday for a ban on Orthodox congregations in Ukraine that have ties to Russia. The decision was made simultaneously with Kiev breaking contacts with religious, social, and community institutions and groups.
The decision specifically targets those parts of Ukraine's Orthodox congregations that are considered to have very close ties with Moscow's counterparts.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyj, who must sign the parliamentary decision before it becomes law, welcomed the vote and wrote on social media that the government will "continue to strengthen Ukraine and our society".
The Patriarch of the Moscow Orthodox Church, in turn, condemned the "illegal" decision.
Ukraine began efforts to distance itself from Russian-controlled institutions even before the Russian invasion in 2022, but the work has since intensified.
