The Ukrainian Orthodox Church has been granted independence from the Russian Orthodox Church, a historic move that is set to deepen the rift between the two nations amid rising tensions over Russia's seizure of Ukrainian vessels near Crimea.
The Ecumenical Patriarchate, led by Bartholomew I of Constantinople, announced on Thursday that it had drafted a constitutional charter for the Ukrainian church, effectively granting it autocephaly. This ends centuries of Ukrainian subordination to the Moscow-based Russian church.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko hailed the decision as a historic step, linking it to his country's broader strategy of breaking away from Russian influence. The move is seen as a significant blow to Moscow, especially given the Russian Orthodox Church's close ties to President Vladimir Putin.
In response, the Russian Orthodox Church, led by Patriarch Kirill, had already severed relations with the Ecumenical Patriarchate in October. The split threatens to divide the world's largest Eastern Orthodox denomination.
Tensions have escalated further, with Ukraine's intelligence agency searching the home of a senior Russian-linked cleric in Kiev on suspicion of inciting hatred. Meanwhile, an attack on an Orthodox church in Kiev earlier this month has been blamed by church officials on Moscow's supporters.
The dispute reflects the broader political conflict between Ukraine and Russia, which has intensified since Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014 and its support for separatists in eastern Ukraine.
