Kyiv's December 2022 moves against Russia-linked religious groups
A look back at the measures Ukraine's president put forward in early December 2022 targeting religious organisations tied to Russia.
What did Ukraine's leadership do about religious organisations linked to Russia in the first days of December 2022? By 6 December 2022, two steps had been taken in quick succession, both dated 2 December.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree banning religious organisations with links to Russia and imposing personal sanctions on their representatives. He also announced that the Ukrainian government would draft a law banning churches affiliated with Russia. He presented this as necessary to counter Russian government efforts to undermine Ukraine from within.
The same day, the president submitted to the Verkhovna Rada a bill that would formally ban any activity in Ukraine by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate).
Taken together, the decree and the bill set out both an immediate measure, in the form of sanctions on individuals, and a legislative route that required parliament's involvement. As of 6 December 2022, the bill awaited consideration in the Rada.
