Ukraine blocks UOJ websites in the US and Bulgaria, SBU requests

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) considers Orthodox news from the US and Bulgaria to pose a threat to Ukrainians.
On March 29 and 31, 2025, the State Service of Special Communications and Information Protection of Ukraine issued directives No. 179/2980 and No. 183/2984 “On Restricting Access to Internet Resources,” demanding that Ukrainian internet providers block access in Ukraine to the websites of UOJ’s branches in Bulgaria (in Bulgarian) and the US (in English).
The documents state that the blocking of these resources was carried out at the request of the SBU.
No explanation is provided as to why English-language publications from the US and Bulgarian-language news from Bulgaria should be restricted for Ukrainian users.
The directives note that the blocking is temporary and will remain in effect until the end of martial law in Ukraine.
As a reminder, in January 2025, Ukrainian authorities blocked UOJ’s websites in Ukrainian and Russian for the fifth time. The UOJ has filed a lawsuit against the SBU over the allegedly unlawful blocking.
