Ukrainian Orthodox Church formally sheds Russian ties

The Ukrainian Orthodox Church formally split from the Russian church on Saturday in a signing ceremony in Turkey, the Associated Press reports.

Why it matters: As Alex Kliment of GZERO Media notes, "[t]his is a spiritual matter with distinctly worldly implications." The new split will make Ukrainian clerics "pick sides between the Moscow-backed Ukrainian churches and the new church," while fighting continues between Ukrainian and Russian forces, AP reports.

Go deeper: Political stakes high in Russia-Ukraine church split