In the Odesa region, half of the residents supported the ban on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church

Nearly half of the residents of the Odesa region support banning the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate. There is also a growing demand in the region for religious organizations to distance themselves from the aggressor country and to take greater responsibility for national security issues.

This was reported by Intent, a co-organizer of the event.

On June 17, a public presentation of the results of the sociological study “Assessment of the Religious Situation: Odesa Region,” conducted by the sociological group “Rating,” took place in Odesa. The study aims to show how residents of the region assess the activities of religious institutions, interfaith relations, and their impact on society amid a full-scale war.

<picture></picture>INFOGRAPHIC: “Rating” sociological group

During the presentation, particular attention was paid to the role of religious communities in strengthening social unity, civic resilience, and national security. For the Odesa region, which is a border region, these issues are of particular importance due to the challenges posed by the war and the need to maintain social cohesion.

Experts presented data on the level of trust Ukrainians have in leaders of various religious denominations, the ratio of communities, parishioners, and places of worship, citizens’ attitudes toward the transition of parishes from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), as well as support for banning religious organizations linked to Russia.

The authors emphasize that such data is particularly valuable given that the last nationwide census was conducted back in 2001.

The results of a survey by the “Rating” sociological group, conducted May 4–12, 2026, among 1,100 residents of the Odesa region, show that the most trusted religious leader is the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, Metropolitan Epiphanius—41% of respondents trust him. The lowest level of trust was recorded for Patriarch Kirill of the Russian Orthodox Church—only 6%.

<picture></picture>INFOGRAPHIC: “Rating” Sociological Group

Among those surveyed, 32% identified as Orthodox but did not affiliate with any specific denomination. Another 17% identified with the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, 11% with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, 16% described themselves as atheists or non-believers, and 15% identified as believers without denominational affiliation.

Most residents of the region continue to celebrate Christmas: 32% on December 25, the same percentage on January 7, and 27% celebrate the holiday according to both calendars.

Regarding religious beliefs, 55% of respondents stated that they have no doubts about the existence of God. Another 19% believe in God, although they sometimes have doubts. At the same time, 25% of those surveyed do not share traditional religious beliefs or believe only in higher powers.

<picture></picture>INFOGRAPHIC: “Rating” Sociological Group

The most common religious practices among the region’s residents are wearing religious symbols (41%) and praying at home (33%). Only 10% of survey participants reported regularly attending religious services.

About 65% of respondents believe that Ukraine guarantees a high level of religious freedom, and 89% stated that they have not faced discrimination because of their religious beliefs.

More than half of those surveyed support holding religious services in Ukrainian. Additionally, 60% believe that the church should be separate from the state, and 78% are convinced that the state should intervene in the activities of religious organizations if they violate the law or pose a threat to the country’s sovereignty.

A separate section of the study focused on attitudes toward churches associated with Russia. Specifically, 73% of the region’s residents support severing ties between the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and the Russian Orthodox Church. Another 56% approve of banning the activities of religious organizations linked to the aggressor state, and 48% support banning the activities of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church under the leadership of Metropolitan Onufriy due to its ties to the Russian Orthodox Church.

<picture></picture>INFOGRAPHIC: “Rating” Sociological Group

In addition, half of those surveyed expressed support for the unification of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church into a single Orthodox church.

Participants in the presentation included Oleksiy Antypovych, head of the “Rating” sociological group; Yaroslav Yurchyshyn, a member of the Ukrainian Parliament; security and geopolitics analyst Oleg Saakyan; Yaroslava Riznykova, a representative of the Odesa Regional State Administration; and civic activist Natalia Mazharova,who moderated the event.

Also, on June 13, Odesa hosted the All-Ukrainian Ethno-Festival “WOW ART UKRAINE – Art of Free People.” The organizers stated that the event’s goal was to showcase the diversity of Ukraine’s regions through art, gastronomy, and innovative entrepreneurship. 

Анна Бальчінос