On July 16, 2025, a regular meeting of the Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations (UCCRO) took place in Kyiv. Under the leadership of the Chair of the UCCRO, Bishop Valerii Antoniuk, religious leaders reviewed the current state of church-state relations in Ukraine, discussed the activities of the Council’s commissions, handed over the chairmanship to a new presiding member for the next term, and addressed other pressing matters concerning the UCCRO’s work. The meeting was held at the Bible House of the Ukrainian Bible Society.
Viktor Yelenskyi, Head of the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Affairs and Freedom of Conscience (DESS), expressed gratitude to churches and religious organizations for their spiritual and humanitarian service during wartime. He informed the UCCRO members about the implementation of the government decree on reserving clergy from military service, the preparation of a bylaw concerning the possibility of long-term pastoral ministry abroad among Ukrainian refugees, and the actions of DESS in the context of enforcing the Law of Ukraine “On the Protection of Constitutional Order in the Activities of Religious Organizations.” He also responded to current issues in church-state relations raised by the religious leaders.
Members of the UCCRO highlighted the risks and threats to religious freedom posed by Draft Law No. 5488, which proposes amendments to the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses and the Criminal Code of Ukraine regarding the fight against manifestations of discrimination.
Colonel Larysa Polianska, Head of the Chaplaincy Service of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, briefed the UCCRO participants on the current needs of chaplaincy service within the Ground Forces. Religious leaders discussed ways to expand pastoral care for service members and their families.
The UCCRO members also reviewed the work of the Council’s commissions, including the Commission on Social Ministry in the context of establishing the Public Council for Cooperation with Churches and Religious Organizations under the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine and the similar council under the Ministry of Health. Based on the discussions, the UCCRO issued corresponding instructions to the Council Secretariat.
The presiding Chair of the UCCRO and Head of the All-Ukrainian Union of Churches of Evangelical Christians-Baptists, Bishop Valerii Antoniuk, presented a report on the UCCRO’s activities in the first half of 2025. This included international advocacy visits to various countries (the United Kingdom, the United States twice, the Czech Republic, Denmark, and Poland), meetings with the President of Ukraine, the Prime Minister, and representatives of the Ministries of Education and Science, Defense, and Social Policy, along with major accomplishments of the Council.
The UCCRO also planned a series of domestic and international events for the second half of 2025. The Council resolved to mark the 30th anniversary of the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations in 2026.
According to the UCCRO Statute and the established rotation procedure, the chairmanship of the Council for the next term has been transferred to the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Ukraine, headed by the Supreme Mufti of Ukraine, Sheikh Ahmed Tamim.
It is worth noting that the All-Ukrainian Union of Churches of Evangelical Christians-Baptists held the chairmanship from January to July 2025.