Essay: Ukraine’s independent Orthodox Christians may tear the country apart

In an article first published on Religion News Service, KATHERINE KELAIDIS says the Ukrainian Government needs to make sure Christians loyal to Moscow still feel free to worship…
Four-fifths of Ukrainians support ban of Russia-linked church in poll

Kyiv, Ukraine Reuters Four-fifths of Ukrainians said they supported a new law banning Russia-affiliated religious groups in a survey released on Tuesday, as Kyiv seeks to root out a branch of the Orthodox Church accused of cooperating with Moscow, which is waging war on Ukraine. The Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), which counted six per cent […]
Religious freedom: Ukraine’s ban targeting Russian-linked faith groups raises concerns

DAVID I KLEIN, of Religion News Service, reports that even some supporters of Ukraine see the ban as an overstep in the name of national security, a violation of religious freedom and a potential risk to continued foreign military aid…
Essay: Ukraine’s ban targeting Moscow-linked Orthodox Church risks US aid

In an article first published on Religion News Service, KATHERINE KELAIDIS, a research fellow at the UK-based Institute of Orthodox Christian Studies, says Zelenskiy is about to test not only Ukraine’s carefully constructed global image but also its own path toward liberal democracy…
Ukraine adopts “historic” law to ban Russia-linked minority church

Kyiv, Ukraine Reuters Ukrainian lawmakers on Tuesday passed a law envisaging a ban on the activities of a Russia-linked branch of the Orthodox church, paving the way for a historic rupture with an institution that Kyiv has accused of complicity in Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. A majority of Ukrainians are Orthodox Christians but the faith […]
Ukraine’s Zelenskiy suggests moves towards banning Orthodox church with Moscow ties

Reuters Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy pledged on Saturday to “strengthen our Ukrainian spiritual independence”, suggesting that the country’s leadership was moving towards effectively banning the branch of the Orthodox Church that has links to Moscow. A majority of Ukrainians are Orthodox Christians, but the faith is split into one branch with traditional links to the […]
Ukraine: Damaged in war, a vibrant church rises as a symbol of the country’s faith and culture

JILL LAWLESS, of Associated Press, reports on the rebuilding of the Church of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the village of Lypivka…
Ukraine says it shot down Russian fighter jets and drones as the country officially marks Christmas

Kyiv, Ukraine AP Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Monday hailed the shooting down of two Russian fighter jets on Christmas Eve and said “this Christmas sets the right mood for the entire year ahead.” In a Christmas message marking the first time the country has officially observed the holiday on 25th December rather than 7th […]
Orthodox Church: Ukrainian churches purge vestiges of Russian influence

For centuries, Orthodox Ukrainians saw the traditional Julian calendar as one of the anchors of their church’s identity. Now many are switching to the Gregorian calendar. MEAGAN SALIASHVILI reports for Religion News Service…
Angry Russia refuses to speak at UN meeting on its attacks on Ukraine’s key port city of Odesa

United Nations AP In an escalation of Russia’s anger at Ukraine and its Western backers, Russia refused to speak at a UN Security Council meeting called to disuss Moscow’s recent devastating attacks on the key port of Odesa immediately following its refusal to extend the Black Sea grain deal. The confrontation began at the start of a […]