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The latest developments in Russia’s war on Ukraine. All times EST.
12:02 a.m.: Ukrainian officials on Friday ordered a historically Russian-aligned wing of the Orthodox Church to leave a monastery complex in Kyiv where it is based, the latest move against a denomination regarded with deep suspicion by the government.
Kyiv is cracking down on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church on the grounds that it is pro-Russian and collaborating with Moscow. The Moscow patriarch, Kirill, has strongly backed the invasion.
The UOC says it has severed its ties with Russia and the Moscow patriarchate, and is the victim of a political witch hunt.
The Ukrainian culture ministry said the UOC had been ordered to leave the 980-year-old Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra monastery complex, where it has its headquarters.
In a statement, it said a probe had revealed the UOC “violated the terms of the agreement regarding the use of state property” but did not give any details.
The UOC, which has until March 29 to leave, said in a Facebook post that the results of the probe were “obviously biased and grossly violate legal norms.”
