All-Ukrainian Council of Churches supported the ban of the Moscow Patriarchate.

President Volodymyr Zelensky met with representatives of the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations (AUCCRO) before considering a bill to ban religious organizations related to Russia. This was reported by the President's Office.

In his speech, Zelensky emphasized the role of churches and religious organizations in spreading the truth about the war and stated that guaranteeing Ukrainian spiritual independence is a shared duty.

«The world must see how many churches were destroyed by the aggressor's shelling, how many lives were destroyed personally by Putin, the Russian army, Moscow - all the structures, I would say, of the Russian state that are involved in the war. We all know that among these structures is indeed the Russian church, which Russia uses to suppress the independence of other states. In particular Ukraine», - said Zelensky.

The president called on the Council of Churches to support the bill to ban religious organizations related to Russia, which will soon be considered by the Verkhovna Rada.

The recording of the meeting shows support from leaders of the OCU, UGCC, Baptist, Jewish communities, the Roman Catholic Church, and others. The Council of Churches also published a statement condemning the activities of the Russian Orthodox Church and the Moscow Patriarchate.

«We categorically condemn the activities of the Russian Orthodox Church, which has become an accomplice in the bloody crimes of the Russian invaders against humanity and blesses weapons of mass destruction and openly declares the necessity of destroying Ukrainian statehood, culture, identity, and recently - the Ukrainians themselves», - the statement reads.

Representatives of the Moscow church, who are likely to be the most affected by this bill, were not present in the meeting video. Metropolitan Onufriy, as the head of the UOC, also belongs to the Council of Churches.

Church leaders expressed their support for the bill. RCC Bishop Vitaliy Kryvytskyi noted that condemnation of the Russian church was expected from the UOC MP, but this did not happen. He urged UOC parishioners to find a way to normalize relations with the state.

The bill to ban the activities of religious organizations related to Russia in Ukraine was recommended for the second reading in March. The bill stipulates that the ROC and affiliated structures will not be able to use state and communal property, and also simplifies the transition to the OCU.

Recently, the «Servant of the People» faction, together with the Opposition Platform - For Life party, refused to consider the issue of banning the Moscow church, but the bill will be considered at the first meeting of the Verkhovna Rada. There will still be discussions on the content of the document.