After the adoption of bill No. 8371 in August 2024 on the ban on the activities of religious organizations whose leadership center is located in the aggressor country, Russian propagandists began to spread more disinformation about the religious situation in Ukraine.

The Ukrainian Crisis Media Center has highlighted recent key messages on this topic.

“Data on Ukrainians’ support for the ban on the UOC (MP) is fake”

In fact, according to a poll by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) in April 2024, 83% of Ukrainians believed that the state should interfere in the activities of the UOC to some extent. In particular, according to 63% of respondents, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church should be completely banned in Ukraine. That is, Ukrainians, on the contrary, express significant support for the relevant measures.

“Pope Francis has sharply condemned the Church's law”

The Pope did comment on the new Ukrainian law on the activities of religious organizations linked to Russia. However, his words were different from those cited by propagandists. Pope Francis stated that “not a single Christian church should be abolished in Ukraine”. He expressed concern about religious freedom, but did not “harshly condemn” the law, as Russian sources claim.

It should be noted that the Vatican seeks to maintain dialogue with all parties, including Moscow. This often leads to cautious formulations that are distorted by propagandists.

“There is a persecution of religion in Ukraine”

In reality, Ukraine is taking action against religious organizations associated with the aggressor country, not against religion in general. The Ukrainian Orthodox Church is historically linked to the Russian Orthodox Church and has proven ties to Russia. A study by the State Service for Ethnopolicy and Freedom of Conscience found that the UOC remains an organization centered in Russia. Therefore, the ban on religious organizations with a leadership center in the aggressor country is aimed at preventing foreign interference through these institutions, not at “persecuting believers”.

“All who are for are enemies, all who are against are friends”

Boxer Oleksandr Usyk, once “praised” by Russian propagandists as a “bearer of the Orthodox faith”, has supported Ukraine's policy of countering Russian influence. The propagandists' messages are now aimed at discrediting Usyk as a person who allegedly changes his beliefs and actions depending on circumstances and influence, thereby undermining his authority among the audience.

Read also: After nine months, the parties will only take up positions for battle. How the law banning religious organizations linked to Russia will work – MediaSapiens – Detector Media.