Ukraine: Zelensky signs decrees imposing sanctions against media outlets affiliated with UOC

President Volodymyr Zelensky signed two decrees implementing decisions made by the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (NSDC) to impose sanctions on pro-Russian propagandists and companies supporting Russia's military-industrial complex. This was reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing the relevant decrees of the head of state.

The first decree addresses pro-Russian propagandists, specifically targeting 14 individuals who justify Russia's military aggression and deny the occupation of Ukrainian territories. These individuals are financed by profits from the coal industry in the temporarily occupied region of Donbas. Notably, the Union of Orthodox Journalists and the Orthodox channel Pershy Kozatsky have been subjected to sanctions.

The second decree imposes sanctions on manufacturers and suppliers of Russia's military-industrial complex, which includes 10 individuals and 31 legal entities based in Russia, China, and Iran. This group comprises companies, their managers, and owners that are involved in supplying equipment and components to Russia while circumventing existing sanctions. Sanctions have also been imposed on Iranian state bodies and legal entities that have supplied military products to Russia.

Union of Orthodox Journalists (UOJ)
The Union of Orthodox Journalists is an information agency affiliated with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Over time, UOJ has primarily focused on publishing articles related to conflicts surrounding the transfer of parishes from the UOC to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU). The publication consistently presents a negative portrayal of the OCU while supporting the UOC, effectively serving as its mouthpiece. UOJ has also criticized the autocephaly of the OCU and has been repeatedly accused of spreading false information. In 2024, several UOJ employees faced legal action for promoting anti-Ukrainian propaganda.

Pershy Kozatsky
The Pershy Kozatsky channel is associated with reporting on topics related to the UOC and has a pro-Russian stance. Publicly available information indicates that the channel continues to create materials that criticize or claim there is “persecution” of the UOC, producing stories that may contribute to an information campaign. The channel has faced multiple blocks on YouTube, and due to the nature of its content, it is regarded as part of a propaganda effort.

In September, Ukraine implemented new personal sanctions against individuals and companies that support Russia's military-industrial complex, shadow fleet, and energy sector. President Zelensky also signed two decrees imposing sanctions on foreign sponsors of Russia's war in Ukraine. Prior to this, Zelensky had signed decrees that instituted new personal and sectoral sanctions against 35 individuals and legal entities connected to the state corporation Rosatom and various Russian energy companies. It is worth mentioning that Ukraine has fully synchronized its sanctions with those imposed by Canada earlier this year, targeting 139 individuals and entities contributing to Russia's war effort, including relatives of Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin. (Quelle: www.risu.ua, 3. November 2025)