The State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience has completed an investigation into whether there are signs of affiliation between the administration of Zaporizhia Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) with a foreign religious organization whose activities are prohibited in Ukraine, and identified three signs of affiliation with the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC).
"The investigation found that such indications exist. Specifically, it was established that the administration of Zaporizhia Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church is a structural unit of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and is part of Kyiv Metropolis of the UOC, which, in accordance with Ukrainian law, is recognized as affiliated with a foreign religious organization whose activities are prohibited in Ukraine," the service said in the statement.
The investigation also confirmed that the charter of Zaporizhia Diocese Administration and the documents governing its activities attest to its affiliation with Kyiv Metropolis of the UOC.
In addition, it was established that the Statute of the Russian Orthodox Church provides for the head of Zaporizhia Diocese of the UOC (MP) to be a member of the statutory governing bodies of the Russian Orthodox Church.
As previously reported, on May 9, 2025, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the procedure for conducting an investigation into whether there are signs of affiliation between a religious organization and a foreign religious organization whose activities are prohibited in Ukraine, as well as the procedure for considering the issue of confirming the use of a religious organization to promote the "Russian World" ideology.
