Incoming bombs and Russian troops are just a few kilometres away. They do not stop Ukrainian pastor Vladimir Ilyushin from seeking out his compatriots in need and encouraging them with the message of the Gospel.

How is the situation of religious freedom in Ukraine? In his previous column, Oleksii Blyzniuk underlined the dilemma of a ban on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church for its ties with Russia. Now, this ban has come into force. What does that mean?

The Ukrainian parliament has passed a law allowing the banning of a church with links to Russia. The new law should give judges more opportunities to act against religious organisations with links to Russia.

Since the invasion of Ukraine, many Orthodox churches all over Europe have found themselves in a precarious position. Many parishes officially fall under the Moscow Patriarchate and Patriarch Kirill who fervently supports the invasion. And it is hard to severe those ties. Yet, the Russian Orthodox Church in Estonia is going to.

Ukraine has a dilemma. The country must decide about the future of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which belongs to the Moscow Patriarchate. Columnist Oleksii Blyzniuk writes that banning it would risk the much-needed foreign support, but keeping it means keeping a pro-Kremlin organisation in the country.