KIEV, January 19. /TASS/. The Ukrainian government has submitted to parliament a bill prepared on instructions President Vladimir Zelensky and aimed at banning the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the event that Ukrainian authorities conclude that it is affiliated with Russia, says a statement posted on the website of the Verkhovna Rada (the parliament).

It says that the bill, registered in the Rada on Thursday, was initiated by Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Shmygal.

Government representative in the Verkhovna Rada Taras Melnichuk wrote on his Telegram channel that the proposed bill provides for amendments to the current legislation, which makes impossible the activity of religious organizations whose governing center is outside Ukraine in a state that carries out armed aggression against Ukraine (the Ukrainian authorities officially call Russia an "aggressor country").

On December 11, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky handed down instructions to submit a bill to parliament banning "religious organizations affiliated with centers of influence in the Russian Federation" and scrutinize the Charter governing the Ukrainian Orthodox Church for signs of canonical ties with the Moscow Patriarchate.