Illegal Sanctions Against UOC Clergy and Human Rights Defenders

Illegal use of personal sanctions against UOC clergy, journalists, and human rights defenders

Personal special economic and other sanctions have become a de facto instrument of pressure, discrimination, and extrajudicial reprisal by representatives of the Ukrainian authorities.

The Constitution and the Law of Ukraine prohibit the imposition of personal sanctions against Ukrainian citizens. Nevertheless, representatives of the Ukrainian authorities use this instrument to strip Ukrainian citizens of their rights.

Starting from December 1, 2022, the NSDC and President Zelensky introduced several packages of sanctions against UOC clergy, journalists, and human rights defenders.

On December 1, 2022, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed Decree No. 820/2022 enacting the decision of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine dated December 1, 2022, "On Certain Aspects of the Activities of Religious Organizations in Ukraine and the Application of Personal Special Economic and Other Restrictive Measures (Sanctions)."

Personal sanctions were imposed against UOC clergy at the proposal of the Security Service of Ukraine for a period of 5 years.

The Presidential Decree states that these unlawful measures were introduced "in order to ensure spiritual independence, prevent a split in society along religious lines, promote the consolidation of Ukrainian society, and protect national interests."

Restrictions were imposed against:

1. Archdeacon Vadim Novinsky 03.06.1963

2. Metropolitan of Chernobyl and Vyshhorod, Abbot of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra Pavlo (Lebed) 19.04.1961

The sanctions provide for:

1) asset blocking — temporary deprivation of the right to use and dispose of assets belonging to a natural or legal person, as well as assets in respect of which such a person may directly or indirectly (through other natural persons) perform actions identical in content to the exercise of the right to dispose of them;

2) restriction of trade operations (complete cessation);

3) restriction, partial or complete cessation of the transit of resources, flights, and transportation across the territory of Ukraine (complete cessation);

4) prevention of capital outflow from Ukraine;

5) suspension of the performance of economic and financial obligations;

6) cancellation or suspension of licenses and other permits, the obtaining (possession) of which is a condition for carrying out a certain type of activity, in particular, the cancellation or suspension of special permits for subsoil use;

7) prohibition on participation in the privatization or lease of state property by residents of a foreign state and persons directly or indirectly controlled by residents of a foreign state or acting in their interests;

8) prohibition or restriction on the entry of foreign non-military vessels and warships into the territorial sea of Ukraine, its internal waters, ports, and aircraft into the airspace of Ukraine, or landing on the territory of Ukraine (complete prohibition);

9) prohibition on the transfer of technologies and rights to intellectual property objects;

10) termination of cultural exchanges, scientific cooperation, educational and sports contacts, and entertainment programs with foreign states and foreign legal entities;

11) deprivation of state awards of Ukraine and other forms of recognition;

12) prohibition on acquiring land plots as property.

(Source: Office of the President of Ukraine)

On January 24, 2023, President Zelensky and the NSDC strengthened personal sanctions against UOC clergy.

President Zelensky signed Decree No. 43/2023, which enacted the NSDC decision of January 24, 2023, "On Amendments to Personal Special Economic and Other Restrictive Measures (Sanctions)."

The sanctions were imposed at the proposal of the Security Service of Ukraine for 5 years.

Restrictions were again imposed against:

1. Archdeacon Vadim Novinsky 03.06.1963

2. Metropolitan of Chernobyl and Vyshhorod, Abbot of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra Pavlo (Lebed) 19.04.1961

The restrictions provide for:

1) asset blocking — temporary deprivation of the right to use and dispose of assets belonging to a natural or legal person, as well as assets in respect of which such a person may directly or indirectly (through other natural or legal persons) perform actions identical in content to the exercise of the right to dispose of them;

2) restriction of trade operations (complete cessation);

3) restriction, partial or complete cessation of the transit of resources, flights, and transportation across the territory of Ukraine (complete cessation);

4) prevention of capital outflow from Ukraine;

5) suspension of the performance of economic and financial obligations;

6) cancellation or suspension of licenses and other permits, the obtaining (possession) of which is a condition for carrying out a certain type of activity, in particular, the cancellation or suspension of special permits for subsoil use;

7) prohibition on participation in the privatization or lease of state property by residents of a foreign state and persons directly or indirectly controlled by residents of a foreign state or acting in their interests;

8) prohibition or restriction on the entry of foreign non-military vessels and warships into the territorial sea of Ukraine, its internal waters, ports, and aircraft into the airspace of Ukraine, or landing on the territory of Ukraine (complete prohibition);

9) full or partial prohibition on transactions involving securities whose issuers are persons subject to sanctions under this Law (complete prohibition);

10) prohibition on the transfer of technologies and rights to intellectual property objects;

11) termination of cultural exchanges, scientific cooperation, educational and sports contacts, and entertainment programs with foreign states and foreign legal entities;

12) cancellation of official visits, meetings, and negotiations on the conclusion of contracts or agreements;

13) deprivation of state awards of Ukraine and other forms of recognition;

14) prohibition on acquiring land plots as property.

(Source: Office of the President of Ukraine)

On December 11, 2022, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed Decree No. 863/2022 enacting the decision of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine dated December 11, 2022, "On Certain Aspects of the Activities of Religious Organizations in Ukraine and the Application of Personal Special Economic and Other Restrictive Measures (Sanctions)."

Personal sanctions were imposed against UOC clergy at the proposal of the Security Service of Ukraine for a period of 5 years.

Restrictions were imposed against:

1. Metropolitan of Zaporizhzhia and Melitopol Luka (Kovalenko) 11.07.1971, Zaporizhzhia

2. Metropolitan of Boryspil and Brovary Antoniy (Pakanich) 25.08.1967, Kyiv

3. Metropolitan of Chernivtsi and Bukovyna Meletiy (Yehorenko) 17.07.1962, Chernivtsi

The sanctions provide for:

1) asset blocking — temporary deprivation of the right to use and dispose of assets belonging to a natural or legal person, as well as assets in respect of which such a person may directly or indirectly (through other natural or legal persons) perform actions identical in content to the exercise of the right to dispose of them;

2) restriction of trade operations (complete cessation);

3) restriction, partial or complete cessation of the transit of resources,

flights and transportation across the territory of Ukraine (complete cessation);

4) prevention of capital outflow from Ukraine;

5) suspension of the performance of economic and financial obligations;

6) cancellation or suspension of licenses and other permits, the obtaining (possession) of which is a condition for carrying out a certain type of activity, in particular, the cancellation or suspension of special permits for subsoil use;

7) prohibition on participation in the privatization or lease of state property by residents of a foreign state and persons directly or indirectly controlled by residents of a foreign state or acting in their interests;

8) prohibition or restriction on the entry of foreign non-military vessels and warships into the territorial sea of Ukraine, its five years

9) full or partial prohibition on transactions involving securities whose issuers are persons subject to sanctions under this Law (complete prohibition);

10) prohibition on the transfer of technologies and rights to intellectual property objects;

11) termination of cultural exchanges, scientific cooperation, educational and sports contacts, and entertainment programs with foreign states and foreign legal entities;

12) cancellation of official visits, meetings, and negotiations on the conclusion of contracts or agreements;

13) deprivation of state awards of Ukraine and other forms of recognition;

14) prohibition on acquiring land plots as property.

(Source: Office of the President of Ukraine)

On October 31, 2025, President Zelensky imposed sanctions against journalists and human rights defenders covering violations and discrimination against UOC believers and clergy.

Zelensky signed Decree No. 810/2025, enacting the NSDC decision of October 31, 2025, "On the Application of Personal Special Economic and Other Restrictive Measures (Sanctions)."

The restrictive measures were effectively introduced to further block information resources covering the life and activities of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, as well as violations and discrimination faced by UOC believers.

The sanctions were imposed indefinitely and for 10 years at the proposal of the Security Service of Ukraine.

Restrictions were imposed against:

1. Viktor Vyshnevetsky 08.01.1968

2. Volodymyr Bobechko 30.08.1973

3. Kateryna Zharkykh 10.05.1994

4. Protopriest Taras Zabudko 24.02.1977

5. Protopriest Oleksiy Zoshchuk 07.05.1983

6. Ruslan Kalinchuk 05.08.1987

7. Lev Klymenko 02.03.1999

8. Mykola Moisiyenko 26.05.1983

9. Andriy Ovcharenko 19.06.1979

10. Iryna Ovcharenko (Vershinina Iryna ) 01.03.1978

11. Valeriy Stupnytsky 05.04.1973

12. Protopriest Serhiy Chertylin 11.08.1989

The sanctions provide for:

1) deprivation of state awards of Ukraine and other forms of distinction;

2) asset blocking — temporary deprivation of the right to use and dispose of assets belonging to a natural or legal person, as well as assets in respect of which such a person may directly or indirectly (through other natural or legal persons) perform actions identical in content to the exercise of the right to dispose of them;

3) restriction of trade operations (complete cessation);

4) restriction, partial or complete cessation of the transit of resources, flights, and transportation across the territory of Ukraine (complete cessation);

5) prevention of capital outflow from Ukraine;

6) suspension of the performance of economic and financial obligations;

7) prohibition on the distribution of media on the territory of Ukraine;

8) termination or suspension of licenses and other permits, the obtaining (possession) of which is a condition for carrying out a certain type of activity, in particular, the termination or suspension of special permits for subsoil use;

9) prohibition on participation in the privatization or lease of state property by residents of a foreign state and persons directly or indirectly controlled by residents of a foreign state or acting in their interests;

10) restriction or termination of the provision of electronic communications services and the use of electronic communications networks (complete cessation);

11) prohibition on conducting public and defense procurement of goods, works, and services from legal entities that are residents of a foreign state under state ownership, and from legal entities whose share of authorized capital is owned by a foreign state, as well as public and defense procurement from other business entities selling goods, works, and services originating from a foreign state subject to sanctions;

12) prohibition or restriction on the entry of foreign non-military vessels and warships into the territorial sea of Ukraine, its internal waters, ports, and aircraft into the airspace of Ukraine, or landing on the territory of Ukraine (complete prohibition);

13) full or partial prohibition on transactions involving securities whose issuers are persons subject to sanctions under this Law (complete prohibition);

14) prohibition on increasing the authorized capital of business entities and enterprises in which a resident of a foreign state, a foreign state, a legal entity in which a non-resident or a foreign state holds a participation, owns 10 or more percent of the authorized capital or has influence over the management of the legal entity or its activities;

15) termination of trade agreements, joint projects, and industrial programs in certain areas, in particular in the field of security and defense;

16) prohibition on the transfer of technologies and rights to intellectual property objects;

17) termination of cultural exchanges, scientific cooperation, educational and sports contacts, and entertainment programs with foreign states and foreign legal entities;

18) cancellation of official visits, meetings, and negotiations on the conclusion of contracts or agreements;

19) prohibition on acquiring land plots as property;

20) other sanctions consistent with the principles of their application established by this Law (blocking by internet providers of access to web resources/services hosted on domains and subdomains of https://spzh.eu/ru/, other web resources/services providing access to the internet resource of sanctioned entities) web resource/service similar (identical) in content, as well as restrictions by electronic service providers (social network services) on access from the territory of Ukraine to content posted on web pages/channels https://t.me/kozakTv1, https://t.me/cu_ua, https://t.me/orthodox, https://t.me/orthodox, https://t.me/dozor_kozak1, https://t.me/pravoslavie, https://t.me/SPG_rus, 📘 https://www.facebook.com/SPZH2015, 📘 http://facebook.com/unionoftheoj, 📘 https://www.facebook.com/1kozaktv, https://x.com/union 📷 https://www.instagram.com/spzh_ru/, https://youtube.com/@spzh_news, https://youtube.com/@spzh_ukr, https://tiktok.com/@1kozakorthodox, https://tiktok.com/@spzh_2015).

(Source: Office of the President of Ukraine)