Ukrainian parliament bans activities of Moscow-linked religious groups

The Ukrainian Orthodox Church becomes a target of a new bill passed by the Ukrainian parliament that bans Moscow-linked religious groups.

Transcript

00:00Ukraine's parliament approved the ban on religious groups tied to Moscow.

00:06One church in Ukraine has become a target, as it historically has been tied to the Russian Orthodox Church.

00:13We haven't banned anyone, not a single Ukrainian church.

00:15We've banned the connection between the Russian Church and the Russian Army, the FSB and Putin.

00:21The Ukrainian Orthodox Church, or UOC, insists it is independent from Moscow.

00:27The Ukrainian Orthodox Church is independent and self-governing.

00:33It is not subordinated to any center in Ukraine,

00:39that is, to any other center except the Kyiv metropolis.

00:42But the Ukrainian government claims the UOC remains tied to the Russian Church,

00:47who called the Russian invasion into Ukraine a holy war.

00:52Considering the fact that Patriarch Kirill claimed the murder of Ukrainians

00:59and the destruction of the Ukrainian statehood,

01:02it is generally difficult to imagine how one can tolerate the activities of this organization

01:07on the territory of our country, which suffers from this war.

01:11The bill, voted in favor by 265 MPs,

01:15requires Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's signature, which is expected.