Zelensky took away the citizenship of Ukraine from the clergymen of the MP. The court delivered the first verdict.

The Supreme Court confirmed the legality of the termination of Ukrainian citizenship for Oleksiy Maslennikov, the former Metropolitan of the UOC-MP of Romny and Buryn. The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, issued a decree on the termination of citizenship for 13 clergymen of the Moscow Patriarchate, among them was Metropolitan Joseph. The reason for this is that Maslennikov has a Russian passport, which he obtained in 2016 in Crimea, and this violates Article 4 of the Constitution of Ukraine, according to which there is only one citizenship of Ukraine. The metropolitan's lawyers argue that all documents issued by the occupying authorities have no legal force.

During the proceedings, it was established that Oleksiy Maslennikov received a passport of a citizen of the USSR in 1995 and on its basis he obtained citizenship of Russia in 1996. At that Time, he also formalized citizenship of Ukraine. The Supreme Court ruled that the president did not take any actions to deprive Maslennikov of citizenship; rather, Maslennikov consciously took actions aimed at losing Ukrainian citizenship by acquiring citizenship of another state. Thus, the court's decision confirms the legality of the termination of citizenship.

It is worth noting that Maslennikov is also suspected of involvement in justifying Russia's aggression against Ukraine and participated in a worship service together with representatives of the ROC, where he blessed Russian military personnel who committed violence against Ukrainians. Moreover, he is under sanctions in Ukraine until December 2027.