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Ukraine orders punitive measures on clerics with Moscow links

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Ukraine’s top security officials ordered punitive actions against seven senior clerics. This was part of a crackdown upon an Orthodox Church branch with longstanding ties in Moscow, President Volodymyr Zilenskiy said on Sunday (18 December).

The Orthodox leader known as the clerics is one of those who sympathize with Russia's depiction of its 10-month-old invasion in Ukraine. The Kremlin claims it is protecting Russian-speakers, and annexed four areas it claimed were historically Russian lands.

Zelenskiy announced the measure during his nightly video address, saying that he was doing all he could to prevent aggressor states from making Ukrainian society suffer.

All seven were subject to an order by the Ukraine's Security Council and their assets were seized. They are also banned from engaging in a variety of legal and economic activities and prohibited from traveling.

The majority of Ukrainians are Orthodox Christians. There has been intense competition between Orthodox Christians in Ukraine and the Moscow-based church and the independent church that was established after 1991's fall from Soviet control.

Although the Moscow-linked church cut all ties to the Russian Orthodox Church following the February invasion many Ukrainians are still suspicious of its motives. The invasion is supported by the Russian church.

Last month, the Security Council ordered an investigation into church activities and is currently considering legislation to limit it.

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The SBU security services in Ukraine have been conducting a series raids on property belonging to the Moscow-linked church. Last week, a senior cleric was accused of engaging in anti-Ukrainian activity through support for Russian policies via social media posts.

Last week, a spokesperson for the Russian-linked church stated that it has always acted within Ukrainian law and that there was no legal basis to pressure its followers.

Dmitry Medvedev, a former Russian president, described Kyiv's authorities as "satanists", "enemies" of Christ and Orthodox faith.

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