The Verkhovna Rada Committee on Humanitarian and Information Policy recommends that the Parliament passes at first reading the bill banning the activities of the Russian Orthodox Church and related religious organizations in Ukraine.
Source: Ukrinform
"The Verkhovna Rada was recommended to pass at first reading draft law No. 8221 ‘On strengthening national security in the area of freedom of conscience and activities of religious organizations’," Yevhenia Kravchuk, deputy head of the Committee, deputy head of the Servant of the People parliamentary faction, told Ukrinform in a comment.
The MP noted that the document bans the activities of the Russian Orthodox Church, religious organizations that are included in the structure of the Russian Orthodox Church directly or as components of another religious organization, as well as religious centers that are part of or recognize subordination to the Russian Orthodox Church in canonical, organizational, and other issues, in the territory of Ukraine.
The draft law also states that all transactions related to the use of property (rent, hiring, leasing, etc.), whose term has not expired, concluded between residents of Ukraine and the corresponding prohibited foreign religious organization, as well as with legal entities of which it is a shareholder, owner, or participant, are terminated early.
As reported, Patriarch Kirill, Head of the Russian Orthodox Church, supported Russia's aggression, saying, among other things, that Russian soldiers are fulfilling their "call" and "duty" to their homeland and society in the war against Ukraine, so their actions can be compared to "self-sacrifice". According to Kirill, all sins of fallen Russian soldiers will be forgiven.
The Security Service of Ukraine has been lately conducting searches in churches belonging to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate). During the searches, pro-Russian literature, millions of cash in Russian rubles, and persons with Soviet documents are discovered.