Zelensky strips 13 pro-Russia priests of citizenship - media

By Decree No. 898/2022 of December 28, 2022, President Volodymyr Zelensky suspended the citizenship of a number of priests with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (in unity with the Moscow Patriarchate).

This is reported by LB.ua, referring to its own sources, as seen by Ukrinform.

It is noted that the decree has not been officially published as it contains personal information. But according to the publication's sources, Zelensky suspended the citizenship of 13 clerics of the UOC (MP).

In particular, it is about Metropolitan Ionafan of Tulchyn and Bratslav, who has been charged with treason. According to available information, he also holds a Russian passport. Also on the list is the vicar of the Tulchyn diocese, Bishop Serhiy of Ladyzhyn, who is Ionafan's close contact, LB.ua wrote, promising to publish the full list of 13 persons as soon as it is verified.

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It is also noted that the State Migration Service received a corresponding notification about the loss of citizenship by the said persons. According to the current regulations, they may be deported.

As reported by Ukrinform, the SBU raided a number of UOC (MP) dioceses in various regions of Ukraine. Many clergymen were found to hold Russian citizenship, store pro-Russian propaganda literature and millions in cash.

In Ukraine, 74% of the population supports the President's decision to impose sanctions on the higher clergy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (in unity with the Moscow Patriarchate), a recent poll says.