Protodeacon Vadym Novynskyi

Protodeacon Vadym Novynskyi of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church

Ukrainian: Vadym Vladislavovych Novynskyi

Date of birth: June 3, 1963

Entrepreneur, industrialist, member of the Verkhovna Rada (Parliament of Ukraine) of the 7th, 8th, and 9th convocations, philanthropist, and clergyman of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

🔴On December 1, 2022, by decree No. 820/2022 of President Zelenskyy and in accordance with the decision of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC), personal sanctions were imposed against a group of individuals associated with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, including Vadym Novynskyi.

(Source: Official website of the Office of the President)

(Source: Official website of the Security Service of Ukraine)

According to the SBU, the justification for sanctions against Novinskyi is "promoting pro-Russian narratives and justifying Russia's military aggression in Ukraine."

🔴The announcement of sanctions against Novinskyi coincided with President Zelenskyy's de facto declaration of a campaign of repression against the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

Both Ukrainian officials and numerous state-controlled media outlets made no secret of the fact that Novinsky's persecution was directly related to his support for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and the financial assistance he has provided to the Church and its projects—spiritual, charitable, and human rights.

Subsequently, the SBU reported several times on the "seizure of assets" of the businessman and politician.

🔴On April 13, 2023, the SBU seized Novinskyi's assets worth more than UAH 3.5 billion.

(Source: Official SBU website)

🔴On April 20, 2023, the SBU seized Novinskyi's assets worth more than UAH 144 million.

(Source: Official website of the SBU)

🔴On May 4, 2023, the SBU seized Novinsky's "hidden" assets worth more than UAH 10.5 billion.

(Source: Official SBU website)

🔴The latest SBU statement states that a case is being opened against Novinsky under Article 111-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine:

"As part of the criminal proceedings initiated by Security Service investigators under Article 111-2 (aiding an aggressor state), the investigation is ongoing to establish all the circumstances of the crime and bring the perpetrators to justice."

🔴On January 18, 2025, the Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine announced suspicion against Vadym Novinsky under two articles of the Criminal Code with political charges: "dissemination of Kremlin narratives" and "ideology of the Russian world."

(Source: Official website of the Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine)

🔴Thus, Vadym Novinsky is charged with high treason (Part 1 of Article 111 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine) and violation of the equality of citizens based on their race, nationality, regional affiliation, and religious beliefs (Part 2 of Article 161 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

Both articles are very characteristic of the entire campaign of religious and political repression against the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and are repeated again and again as a method to suppress freedom of speech and believers' attempts to defend their rights.

The text of the notice of suspicion makes it clear that the politician and clergyman are being persecuted for their religious beliefs, for defending the rights of their denomination, and for criticizing the OCU and the actions of that organization.

We quote part of the statement from the Office of the Prosecutor General:

"In order to maintain the influence of the Russian Orthodox Church in Ukraine, which supports armed aggression against the country, the suspect spread the so-called ideology of the 'Russian world.' With the assistance of the Patriarch of the Russian Federation, he became the curator of the Russian Orthodox Church in Ukraine. The suspect followed his instructions and directions to ensure that a significant portion of Ukrainian society, believers of the UOC-MP, remained under the direct influence of the leader of the ROC.

The people's deputy also used his right of legislative initiative to conceal the existence of a church-canonical connection and the incorporation of the UOC into the structure of the ROC-MP, thus ensuring the continued influence of the ROC in Ukraine.

The suspect gave media interviews in which he made negative statements about other denominations operating in Ukraine. These actions were aimed at inciting hatred and enmity on religious grounds.

Pre-trial investigation – State Bureau of Investigation, operational support – Security Service of Ukraine."

Punitive measures taken against Vadym Novinsky:

Since December 1, 2022, he has been subject to Ukrainian sanctions due to regular attempts to rob his assets.

Since January 18, 2025, he has been officially under suspicion in criminal cases under two articles of the Ukrainian Criminal Code, including "High Treason."

Status:

At large outside of Ukraine, under investigation.

Additions:

Vadym Novynskyi's interview with Tucker Carlson

"Vadym Novynskyi: Zelensky's Mission to End Christianity in Ukraine & Why America Is Still Funding It"

It's worth noting that the Russian Federation previously imposed sanctions against Vadim Novinsky and his close associates.

Novinsky was under Russian sanctions from December 2018 to April 2020.

(Source: "Left Bank")