Ukrainian parliament votes to ban Orthodox Church over alleged links with Russia

MPs overwhelmingly back move in initial vote, despite church claim it has cut ties with Moscow

The Ukrainian parliament gave initial approval on Thursday to a law that would ban the Ukrainian Orthodox Church after Kyiv accused it of collaborating with Russia following last year's invasion.

The UOC, which says it no longer aligned with the Russian Orthodox Church, denies the charges levelled at it by Kyiv and said the draft law would be unconstitutional.