On July 26, the UN Security Council held two meetings on the Ukrainian issue. According to the website of the organization, the meetings were initiated by the delegation of the Russian Federation: the Russian Federation accuses Ukraine of persecuting the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

Director of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations Nihal Saad drew attention to the issue of religious freedom and the security of members of religious communities throughout Ukraine, both in the territory controlled by the government and in the territory occupied by the Russian Federation. She recalled the work of the UN commission from February 1 to April 30, 2023, when cases of violence against members and supporters of the Ukrainian UOC were recorded.

She reported that the Ukrainian authorities conducted searches in places of religious worship and other objects of the UOC, issued notices of suspicion against clergy, and placed several of them under house arrest. In addition, the Ministry of Culture terminated the agreement with the UOC on the early lease of the state Kiev-Pechersk Lavra. “After the intervention of the UN, the authorities refrained from actions that are fraught with violence and did not forcibly evict the UOC from the Lavra within the stated period of March 29,” Saad added.

Nihal Saad also emphasized the actions of the Russian Federation regarding representatives of the clergy and members of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic and Evangelical Christian communities who were subjected to enforced disappearances, arbitrary detentions, torture and illegal deportations.

Acting Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the UN Dmitry Polyansky in his speech stated that “no accusations against Russia and no fabrications against the canonical Orthodox Church in Ukraine give Kiev an indulgence to destroy canonical Orthodoxy.”

In response to this statement, the Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the UN, Serhiy Kislitsa, addressed the Russian delegation with the question: “Who do you want to free us from? Why are you committing genocide of the Ukrainian people? When will your government stop verbally confessing God’s law and doing evil and darkness?

The meeting was also attended by the Orthodox writer and publicist Yan Taksyur, who, after being accused of treason, was taken to Russia on an exchange.