OCU speaker explains the importance of banning the Moscow Patriarchate in Ukraine

He stated this in a comment to Glavkom.

"My position is that the state, in the same way as it protects its territory, information space, economy, transport links, etc., should also protect the religious space from Russian aggression," Archbishop Yevstratiy explained.

The OCU spokesman noted that religious structures should not be an instrument of the Kremlin's aggression, and the fact of using the UOC-MP in the war against Ukraine "is evidenced by the clergy of the Russian Orthodox Church themselves."

In addition, Yevstratiy (Zoria) said that it is logical to impose sanctions on the leadership of the Russian Orthodox Church – as well as on Russian oligarchs, who are also not formally officials, but helped Vladimir Putin build the regime that attacked Ukraine.

"The head of the Russian Church (Patriarch Kirill (Gundyaev) – Ed.), who publicly blesses the Russian army for aggression against a sovereign state, remains without any sanction response!" Archbishop Yevstratiy drew attention to this nonsense.

In addition, the imposition of sanctions on Kirill could contribute to the termination of the existence of the UOC-MP, given the adopted law on collaboration.

"If he (Gundyaev – Ed.) is a sanctioned person, there should be no administrative interaction between him and the UOC-MP as a component of the Russian Orthodox Church. Such interaction will fall under the norms of collaboration," Archbishop Yevstratiy explained.

As RISU has reported two draft laws that propose to stop the functioning of an institution called the UOC-MP have already been registered in the Verkhovna Rada. These are draft laws №7204 and №7213.

Draft law №7204 consists of five articles, one of which defines the norm - all property of the highest governing bodies of the Russian Orthodox Church in Ukraine (UOC-MP) is nationalized within 48 hours after the law comes into force. Regarding the possible transfer of parishes of the UOC-MP to the OCU, this bill gives them 14 days to do so. At the same time, the property of church parishes is owned by the community. If these parishes want to remain under the leadership of the Russian Orthodox Church, their property is to be confiscated and transferred to the community, and their activities are stopped. The property of all three Lavras (monasteries) - Kyiv-Pechersk, Pochayiv and Svyatoghorsk, shall be returned to state ownership. Also, Bill No. 7204 requires the SBU to conduct an inspection of all institutions of the UOC-MP regarding their possible anti-Ukrainian activities or collaboration with the aggressor.

Another bill, №7213, is much shorter, its text - without the preamble and final provisions – consists of a single sentence. The text does not mention the Russian Orthodox Church here. Instead, it is proposed to ban the activities of any religious organizations that are subordinate or located in the aggressor country.

The well-known Russian TV propagandist Vladimir Solovyov reacted hysterically to the appearance of these bills, urging to stop any negotiations with Ukraine and fight until victory.