Petition launched in Ukraine to protect Christian shrines from blasphemy
The initiative provides for amendments to the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
On June 23, 2026, a petition was registered in Ukraine calling for stronger legal protection of Christians’ religious feelings and greater respect for sacred Christian symbols.
The author of the appeal, Valentyna Ilina, stressed that during wartime millions of Ukrainians find spiritual support in their faith, making public mockery of sacred objects a particularly painful form of disrespect in the eyes of society.
According to her, current legislation does not provide adequate mechanisms for responding to acts of blasphemy, creating a sense of impunity among those who engage in such behavior.
The petition describes the Gospel as the “fourth symbol of state authority,” noting that every President of Ukraine takes the oath of office on this Holy Book. Yet despite Christianity’s central role in the nation’s historical development and state-building process, the authorities, the authors argue, have failed to protect its principal symbols – the Cross and the Crucifixion – from public ridicule in video content and advertising.
The petition’s supporters insist that the initiative is not aimed at restricting freedom of speech but at upholding basic human decency and protecting the rights of millions of believers. The proposal calls for amendments to the Criminal Code of Ukraine, including the introduction of a new Article 161-1.
Under the proposal, criminal liability would be introduced for the deliberate disrespectful, blasphemous, or degrading use of icons, holy relics, the Crown of Thorns, and sacred books in the media, social networks, and entertainment content.
The authors have also submitted a request to the Verkhovna Rada to establish administrative penalties for less serious forms of offensive use of Christian symbols.
As the UOJ previously reported, social media users expressed outrage over a music video in which singer Polyakova appeared in the image of Christ.
