Speaker flags Ukrainian law 3894 and risks to Orthodox church members' legal status

Ray Celeste, identified at the briefing as working with Congressman "Dr. Murphy," asked Knox Thames about reports that Ukraine had adopted legislation known as Law 3894 that could terminate the legal identity and property rights of the Moscow‑affiliated Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Thames said the law appears to shorten the grace period for churches to disaffiliate from the Moscow Patriarchate and contains "a series of checks" including judicial review and evaluations. "It's not like they're kicked out immediately," he said, adding that the measure sets up a process that still allows legal review.

Thames acknowledged the complexity of the situation: Ukraine faces active hostilities and concerns about Russian agents operating under religious cover, but millions of Ukrainians belong to the affected church and the rights of ordinary parishioners must be protected. "We need to find a way to accommodate their beliefs and ability to worship as they feel led," Thames said, while also recognizing Ukraine's legitimate security concerns.

Thames urged careful monitoring of how the law is implemented and suggested friends of Ukraine should raise concerns to ensure procedural safeguards and accurate information. He warned against rushed judgments as information moves across long distances and risks being distorted. "Now that this grace period has ended — we just have to see how it plays out," he said.

The briefing did not announce any formal U.S. action on Law 3894.