President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi has imposed sanctions against one of Ukraine’s richest businessmen and 9 priests associated with the Russian Orthodox Church, freezing their assets for 5 years, Reuters reports.

The move is the latest in a series of measures Kiev has taken against the Russian Orthodox Church following its staunch support for the invasion launched by Vladimir Putin last February.

The decree, published on the website of the President of Ukraine, announces the introduction of sanctions against Vadym Novinsky, whose fortune before the start of the war was estimated at 1.3-3.5 billion dollars.

Novinski, who is believed to be in Germany, has businesses in the energy and steel sectors. He also holds the rank of deacon and sponsored a branch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which for years was loyal to Moscow.

The Vicar of the Pechersk Lavra in Kyiv, Pavlo Lebid, and other high-ranking hierarchs belonging to parishes in the east and south of the country, places where the main battles against the Russian occupation forces are taking place, as well as from Crimea, a region illegally annexed by Russia, were also included in the sanctions list. in 2014.

In recent months, Ukrainian authorities have raided several churches and monasteries of the Moscow-loyal Ukrainian Orthodox Church, accusing them of supporting “genocide” committed by Russian troops under the pretext of religion.

Earlier this week, similar sanctions were imposed against 22 Russians associated with the Moscow Orthodox Church.

The Ukrainian Orthodox Church officially declared its full independence from Russia at the end of May last year, but security services in Kyiv charge that many of its clergy continue to spread propaganda or pro-Russian messages.

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