Monday, October 23, 2023

Russia closes churches in occupied Ukraine

Russia closes churches in occupied regions of Ukraine

Russian forces have closed down churches in the occupied regions of Ukraine, leaving untouched the Orthodox churches affiliated with the Moscow patriarchate.

The Russian occupiers have closed a Catholic church in Skadovsk, a Baptist church in Zapoizhzia, and a parish of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (the group that rivals the Moscow-linked Ukrainian Orthodox Church) in Basan. 

A Russian spokesman explained that churches “face no restrictions, but those that break the law are banned.”