The State Service of Ukraine on Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience (DESS) has announced the launch of an investigation into possible affiliation between the Kyiv Metropolis of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (legal entity identification code: 21510633) and a foreign religious organization whose activities are prohibited in Ukraine. The investigation will commence on May 20, 2025.

This information was published on the official DESS website in accordance with Paragraph 8 of the Procedure for Conducting Research into the Presence of Affiliation between a Religious Organization and a Foreign Religious Organization Whose Activities Are Prohibited in Ukraine (hereinafter referred to as the Procedure), approved by Resolution No. 543 of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine dated May 9, 2025.

According to Paragraph 5 of the Procedure, the subject of the investigation is the determination of affiliation indicators as outlined in Part 2 of Article 51 of the Law of Ukraine "On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations", with respect to a religious organization operating in Ukraine and a foreign religious organization whose activities are prohibited in Ukraine under Article 3 of the Law of Ukraine "On the Protection of the Constitutional Order in the Activities of Religious Organizations."

It should be recalled that, under Article 3 of the above-mentioned Law, the activities of the Russian Orthodox Church are prohibited in Ukraine.

In accordance with Paragraph 3 of the Procedure, DESS forms a research group composed of its officials to conduct the investigation.

Based on the results of the investigation, pursuant to Paragraph 13 of the Procedure, DESS will issue one of the following orders:

1. An order confirming the presence of affiliation indicators in the religious organization, as defined in Part 1 of Article 51 of the Law of Ukraine "On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations"; or

2. An order confirming the absence of such affiliation indicators in the religious organization, as defined in the same provision.