On July 17, 2025, the State Service of Ukraine on Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience (DESS) issued a Compliance Order to the Kyiv Metropolia of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC). This followed an official investigation that found evidence of affiliation between the Kyiv Metropolia and a foreign religious organization whose activities are banned in Ukraine.

The Compliance Order demands that the Kyiv Metropolia eliminate violations of Ukrainian legislation on freedom of conscience and religious organizations.

According to the law, the deadline to correct the violations is August 18, 2025. Upon a substantiated request from the religious organization, DESS may grant an extension to submit the compliance report — for a maximum of 60 additional days.

The full text of the Compliance Order on the elimination of violations of legislation on freedom of conscience and religious organizations is available at the provided link.

Simultaneously with the issuance of the order, DESS, in accordance with Ukrainian law, approved and published on its website an official List of Religious Organizations that are part of, or affiliated with, the structure of the Kyiv Metropolia of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (EDRPOU code 21510633), to which the order applies. This List includes 52 religious organizations.

As a reminder, on July 8, 2025, DESS formally approved the findings of its research identifying signs of affiliation between the UOC Kyiv Metropolia and the Russian Orthodox Church. These findings were based on a comprehensive investigation.

The Law of Ukraine "On the Protection of the Constitutional Order in the Activities of Religious Organizations" was adopted by the Verkhovna Rada (Parliament of Ukraine) in August 2024.