President Volodymr Zelensky signed into law a bill banning religious groups with ties to Russia Saturday, Ukraine’s Independence Day. The bill’s main target is the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) which has historically been linked to the Russian Orthodox Church, also known as the Moscow Patriarchate. The law passed Ukraine’s parliament on August 20, with 265 lawmakers voting for and 29 voting against. But with Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014, Ukraine’s Orthodox churches split. In particular, 63% believe that Ukrainian Orthodox Church should be completely banned in Ukraine.

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Persons: Volodymr Zelensky, Mykyta, ” Poturaiev, Bartholomew I of Constantinople, Ukraine’s, Epiphanius, ”, Metropolitan Clement, –, ” Kosta Gak Organizations: CNN, Russia, Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Orthodox Church, Russian, Church, Ukraine’s, Service, Ethnic, Ukraine’s Security Service of Ukraine, of Ukraine, Moscow Patriarchate, Ukraine, Kyiv International Institute of Sociology, Facebook, God Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Ukrainian, Moscow, Crimea, Kyiv, Ukraine’s Kyiv, Russian