On May 3, 2024, the mayor of Konotop, Sumy region, Artyom Semenikhin, published a decree that “banned” the activities of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. According to the mayor of Konotop, such a measure will help “consolidate Ukrainian society” and “prevent the split of Konotop residents on religious grounds”. The mayor “left control over the execution of the decision”. This Semenikhin reported on his page in the social network Facebook.

“According to Article 42 of the Law of Ukraine “On local self-government in Ukraine”, the Law of Ukraine “On the legal regime of martial law”, in order to consolidate Ukrainian society, to prevent a split in the Konotop community on religious grounds, anti-Ukrainian activities, speculation on the beliefs of residents, given the open pro-Russian propaganda in the temples of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which is subordinate to Patriarch Kirill of Moscow: 1) To prohibit on the territory of Konotop city Council the activities of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, as such, which carries a threat to the national security of Ukraine, 2) I reserve control over the execution of this decision,” – wrote in the order Semenikhin.

It is worth noting that earlier we reported that the head of the State Service for Ethno-politics and Freedom of Conscience Viktor Yelenskyy stated that local authorities do not have the authority to ban the activities of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. According to Yelenskyy, the church can be banned only by a court ruling.