Ukraine moves to ban an Orthodox church it says is linked with pro

Ukrainian government moves to ban Orthodox church branch it says failed to completely sever longstanding ties with pro-war Moscow.

Action deepens religious battleground in war, coming year after Parliament banned Moscow-based Russian Orthodox Church for invasion support.

Court process could finalize ban within months, potentially affecting parishes and access to state-owned historic church properties.

The Ukrainian government has declared that a branch of the Orthodox Church has failed to sever its longstanding ties with Moscow — and could soon be banned.

The looming ban affects one of the two rival branches of Orthodoxy in the country and further underscores the turbulent role of religion as Ukraine fends off the Russian invasion. Orthodoxy is the majority religion in both Russia and