KIEV, Ukraine—Ukrainian MPs passed a law Dec. 20 that could force a Moscow-backed church in Ukraine to add “Russian” to its name, with the aim of curbing the influence of priests whom authorities call a threat to national security.
Ukraine on Dec. 15 created a new Orthodox church independent from Moscow, which leaders have lobbied for since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991 and Kiev says is a vital step to blunt Russian meddling in its affairs.
