Zelensky Strips Ukrainian Citizenship from Primate of the UOC-MP Onufriy.

The President Signed a Decree Revoking Metropolitan Onufriy's Ukrainian Citizenship

According to information received from the Security Service of Ukraine, President Zelensky signed a decree revoking Metropolitan Onufriy's Ukrainian citizenship, who is known for his activities in the UOC (MP). It is noted that Onufriy received citizenship of the Russian Federation in 2002 without informing the Ukrainian authorities.

The Security Service points out that Onufriy has connections with the Moscow Patriarchate, which denies the canonical independence of the Ukrainian church from the Russian Orthodox Church. It is also known that the Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Kirill is considered a representative of the aggressor country.

According to additional materials from the SBU, Onufriy and other priests of the UOC (MP) hold Russian citizenship. This information became known after a journalistic investigation that was published in April 2023. Despite attempts to disavow his Russian citizenship, Onufriy still acknowledged its existence but claims he does not consider himself a citizen of Russia.

Political Consequences in the Religious Sphere

This decision may have serious consequences for the church situation in Ukraine and the relations between Ukraine and Russia in the religious sphere.