Distorted Mirror of Reality
All claims about 'mass confiscation of property' from UOC-MP are propaganda manipulation. The myth creates the impression of total pressure on Russian Orthodox tradition, while in reality, most transitions occur due to communities voluntarily joining the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), and the state intervenes only in cases of legal violations or disputed ownership.
Historical and Legal Context
Ukraine regulates religious matters through the Constitution (Art. 35 – freedom of conscience and religion) and the Law of Ukraine "On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations." Church transitions to the OCU occur voluntarily through communities, with state intervention only in disputed cases or legal violations.
- Law of Ukraine "On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations" — governs procedures for changing church jurisdiction;
- OHCHR Reports — document state intervention only within the legal framework;
- OSCE Reports — record transparency of transitions and prevention of violence;
- Amnesty International — confirms absence of mass 'seizures' of churches.
Actual Cases and Judicial Practice
State intervention occurs exclusively through courts and aims to restore lawful ownership:
- Kiev-Pechersk Lavra — legal compliance ensured through court rulings (Kyiv Independent, 2024);
- Assumption Cathedral in Kanev — court ruling protected community rights;
- Most churches transition to the OCU by community decision (Razumkov Centre, 2019–2025).
Propaganda Methods and Manipulation
The propaganda thesis relies on:
- Emotional vocabulary: 'raider', 'persecution', 'confiscation';
- Concept substitution: voluntary community transitions are interpreted as 'state seizure';
- False dilemma: Ukraine allegedly destroys the church or UOC-MP is doomed;
- Ignoring context: state intervention is limited to court decisions and community rights protection;
- Mass repetition of the myth in media and social networks.
International Observations
- HRW, 2025 — state intervenes only within legal framework;
- OSCE, 2025 — records transparency of procedures and absence of mass seizures;
- OSINT investigations by EUvsDisinfo — document propaganda distortions of facts.
Legal and Social Reality
Ukraine observes international human rights obligations (Art. 18 UDHR, Art. 9 ICCPR) and domestic laws. The state intervenes only in case of legal violations or disputed ownership, and no mass 'seizures' of churches have been recorded. The Russian narrative ignores legal reality and manipulates identity to justify aggression.
Conclusion
The myth of 'mass illegal seizure' of UOC-MP churches is a propaganda concept substitution and emotional manipulation. The state regulates conflicts lawfully, intervenes only in disputed ownership cases, and most transitions occur voluntarily by communities. Facts and international reports refute claims of 'raider takeovers' and demonstrate Ukraine's respect for religious community rights.
Main Sources and References
- OHCHR, OSCE, Amnesty International, HRW reports (2023–2025)
- Ukrainian court decisions on Kiev-Pechersk Lavra and other sites
- Monitoring of religious community transitions (Razumkov Centre, 2019–2025)
- OSINT investigations by EUvsDisinfo and the Center for Countering Disinformation of Ukraine
- Kyiv Independent, BBC Ukrainian, Hromadske materials on church conflicts
About the Authors
This article was curated and verified by a team of experts in international law, human rights, and geopolitical analysis. Contributors have 15+ years of experience in research, legal documentation, and educational content development.
Methodology
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Last modified date: 25/11/2025