Russian authorities ban Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Zaporizhzhia
The Russian military-civilian administration in the occupied Zaporizhzhia oblast of Ukraine issued an order banning the activities of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC), as well as the Knights of Columbus and Caritas organizations engaged in social service in the occupied territory.
All movable and immovable property and land plots of the UGCC will also be seized. The Information Department of the UGCC reports they just become aware of this on December 7, although the document dates December 26, 2022.
On 7 December the UGCC announced on its website that it had just discovered that its activities had been officially banned by the Russian military-civilian administration in charge of the occupied territories of the Zaporizhzhia region, illegally ‘annexed’ to Russia on September 30, 2022.
The occupation forces claim the UGCC stored explosives and firearms in religious buildings, violating Russian Federation laws on religious and public organizations. They also allege involvement in mass riots, anti-Russian rallies, distributing literature inciting breach of territorial integrity, and active participation in extremist groups and neo-Nazi propaganda by UGCC communities in the region.
Source: ugcc.ua
