Ukraine may force church to add 'Russian' to its name

Believers of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate attend a public prayer in front of the parliament building in Kiev, Ukraine December 20, 2018. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich

KIEV (Reuters) - Ukrainian MPs passed a law on Thursday that could force the Moscow-backed church in Ukraine to add "Russian" to its name, aimed at curbing the influence of priests whom the authorities call a threat to national security.

Ukraine on Saturday 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.