News

On April 8, Ukraine is marking at the state level, for the first time, the memory of the victims of the mass deportation of Jehovah’s Witnesses to Siberia.

On the night of July 30 to 31, Russian terrorists launched another attack on the Ukrainian capital, resulting in the deaths and injuries among peaceful residents of Kyiv, including women and children, as well as the destruction of civilian infrastructure and residential buildings.

Today, on June 10, at dawn, during yet another Russian air attack on the Ukrainian capital, the Russian Federation committed a heinous crime against global culture.

The State Service of Ukraine on Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience (DESS) has completed the preparation of the Sixth Periodic Report of Ukraine on the Implementation of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities.

Today, the presentation of the complete edition of the Bible in Ukrainian braille took place in Kyiv. One of the most important sources of inspiration and wisdom is now available to the visually impaired people.

Joint press conference State Service of Ukraine for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience Ukrainian Association of Researchers of Religion Department of Religious Studies at H.S. Skovoroda Institute of Philosophy of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine on the occasion of World Religion Day.

For four days, DESS held online meetings of working thematic groups as part of the public discussion of the project of the State target national and cultural program “Unity in Diversity” for the period until 2034

Information about the performances of the “Sartan Gems” ensemble on Moscow stages, spread by the propaganda of the aggressor country, aims to convince the world of the prosperous present of the Greeks of Ukraine in the annexed territories controlled by the enemy.

This discussion was held by the State Service for Ethnic Affairs and Freedom of Conscience (DESS) in the context of the development of legal mechanisms for the implementation of the Law of Ukraine “On National Minorities (Communities) of Ukraine”.

From February 24 to January 26, 2023, at least 307 religious sites in 15 regions of Ukraine were fully or partly ruined by the aggressive attack of the Russian Federation: churches, mosques, synagogues, educational and administrative building of Ukraine’s religious communities.

We, representatives of religious organizations of Ukraine, appeal to you on behalf of millions of our faithful who, under Russian missiles and shells, pray, work and protect the most valuable gift of God – life on our land, people’s rights and their dignity.

Ukraine-EU consultations regarding legal consequences temporary occupation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol took place today. The round was attended by representatives of the executive power of Ukraine, in particular, the Head of DESS Viktor Yelenskyi.

Olena Bogdan, Head of the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic and Religious Affairs, addressed the Human Rights Council Forum on Minority Issues on December 2, 2022. The Forum marks the 30th anniversary of adopting the UN Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities.

November 29 to December 1, 2022, at the 6th plenary session of the Council of Europe Steering Committee for Anti-Discrimination, Diversity and Inclusion (CDADI), Olena Bogdan, Head of the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic and Religious Affairs, invited member countries to examine the ideology behind Russia’s attempted invasion of Ukraine.

Dr. Ihor Lossovskyi’s (DESS Deputy Head) material “How Moscow ‘Eliminates’ Its National Minorities in the War with Ukraine” was published by the European Center for Minorities Issues (ECMI). ECMI is a research institution on national minorities studies.

From February 24 to September 20, 2022, at least 270 religious sites in 14 regions of Ukraine were fully or partly ruined by the aggressive attack of the Russian Federation: churches, mosques, synagogues, educational and administrative building of Ukraine’s religious communities..

From February 24 to August 23, 2022, at least 205 religious sites in 14 regions of Ukraine were fully or partly ruined by the aggressive attack of the Russian Federation: churches, mosques, synagogues, educational and administrative building of Ukraine’s religious communities..

When: 22 August 2022, 10:30
Where: Information and Exhibition Center of the Maidan Museum (Independence Square, 18/2)
Offline and online speakers

From February 24 to July 23, 2022, at least 183 religious sites in 14 regions of Ukraine were fully or partly ruined by the aggressive attack of the Russian Federation: churches, mosques, synagogues, educational and administrative building of Ukraine’s religious communities. 

The brutal attack of the Russian military ruins Christian temples and other sacred sites of Ukraine’s religious communities: since February 24, at least 116 spiritual sites have been badly affected in at least thirteen regions of Ukraine.

On April 4, Dr. Olena Bogdan, Head of the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Affairs and Freedom of Conscience, addressed delegates at the 2022 IOM Global Diaspora Summit. The statement was made within the Ministerial Reflections Session, dedicated to Objective 19 in the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, adopted by the UN General Assembly on 19 December 2019 (Resolution 73/195).

While Kremlin propagandists are cynically covering their imperial ambitions with statements about “protecting Orthodox faith”, the aggressive attack of the Russian military ruins Orthodox temples and other spiritual sites.

Address of Olena Bogdan, Head of the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Affairs and Freedom of Conscience, to the Council of Europe Steering Committee on Anti-Discrimination, Diversity and Inclusion (CDADI) at the Steering Committee plenary session on March 15, 2022.

While Kremlin propagandists are cynically covering their imperial ambitions with statements about “protecting Orthodox faith”, the aggressive attack of the Russian military ruins Orthodox temples and other sacred sites of Ukraine’s religious communities.

Appeal to NATO member countries and all Ukraine’s allies from Ukraine’s citizens of various ethnic and religious identities, international citizens, residing in Ukraine about Ukrainian Sky Safety, Protecting Civilian Population and Cultural Heritage of Ukraine during the Full-Scale Military Attack of the Russian Federation against Ukraine