Break with Moscow. The religious scholar explained the double game of Onufriy.

The Moscow church in Ukraine prepares to appeal in court regarding the break with the ROC

The Moscow church in Ukraine, led by Metropolitan Onufriy, is preparing to file a lawsuit if it is recognized as affiliated with the Russian Orthodox Church in 2022. According to religious scholar Oleksandr Sahan, the church is actively preparing for possible actions by making statements about breaking ties with the ROC, which can be manipulated in courts.

“Such statements may have the appearance of a break in relations with Moscow for unprepared people, even though this has not actually occurred,” Sahan noted.

After the decision of the Patriarchate of Constantinople to restore the protectorate over the Kyiv Metropolis, movement within the UOC MP itself began to be limited. The UOC MP refuses to recognize the PCU and seeks to avoid a final break with Moscow, although internal pressure may influence this decision.

Recent events and views

In May 2025, Metropolitan Onufriy of the UOC MP appealed to the participants of the Council to support the complete separation of the church from the ROC. However, the actions of the UOC MP still remain unified with the ROC, as confirmed by official expert studies.

Despite statements about a break with the ROC, the UOC MP community continues to remain under the influence of the Moscow Patriarchate, which raises questions about its independence. Whether the church can achieve complete canonical independence in the future remains an open question.