World #2 – Ukraine bans Russian men; Orthodox church splits from Moscow

(by Nicholas Sakelaris, UPI) – Ukraine said Friday it’s banning entry for Russian men between the ages of 16 and 60, a move President Petro Poroshenko said will stop Moscow from sneaking in “private army units.”

It’s the latest escalation between the two countries since Russia opened fire on three Ukrainian ships and seized them and their 24-member crews last weekend. One of the Russian warships rammed the Ukraine boat.

For the travel ban, Ukraine said it will make exceptions for humanitarian reasons, such as a funeral.

Earlier this week, Ukraine imposed martial law and limited its own citizens’ travel to Crimea, the peninsula controversially annexed [seized; taken over by force] by Russia four years ago. The only way to get there is by going through Russia first, which is considered by Kiev illegal. [Following the annexation of Crimea, Russia has also supported separatists in Ukraine’s east with clandestine dispatches of troops and weapons. Fighting there has killed at least 10,000 people since 2014 but eased somewhat after a 2015 truce.]

Poroshenko has said the martial law won’t affect Ukrainians’ civil rights, just those of Russians. The restrictions could make it difficult for Russian men to visit relatives in Ukraine. [The travel ban will be in effect during the 30 days of martial law.]

Poroshenko has also asked NATO to deploy warships to protect Ukrainian ships — a move Russia warned would escalate the conflict.

Russian state-run media said Friday Moscow isn’t planning a counter-ban for Ukrainian men of military age.

Russia’s state-run TASS news agency also reported Friday the captured sailors will remain in jail for two months during an investigation. Their commanders were taken to Moscow for interrogation.

The rift prompted President Donald Trump to cancel a planned meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the G20 summit in Argentina this weekend. British Prime Minister Theresa May has rebuked Putin’s aggression against Ukraine, calling on Russia to release the ships and sailors.

The confrontation on Thursday also led to a historical religious change. The Ukrainian Orthodox Church was granted independence from the Russian church, a watershed moment that could split eastern Orthodoxy. Until now, Ukraine’s church has been under Moscow’s control for centuries.

The Holy and Sacred Synod granted the Church of Ukraine autonomy late Thursday.

Ukrainian intelligence officers believe that Kiev’s oldest and largest monastery is contributing to the Russian propaganda in the country. They have searched the home Father Pavlo, who is suspected of “inciting hatred.”

The Russian Orthodox church is allied with Patriarch Kirill, an ally of Putin. Kirill announced last month he would end relations with the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, splitting the Eastern Orthodox denomination.

Published at UPI .com on November 30. Reprinted here for educational purposes only. May not be reproduced on other websites without permission from United Press International.