Ukraine's Culture Minister Oleksandr Tkachenko has given a three-day deadline to the monks of the Kyivan Caves Monastery to vacate the premises.

In a post on Telegram on Tuesday, he said the Ukrainian Orthodox Church was notified about the need for an immediate evacuation.

He warned that failure to comply will result in the filing of a lawsuit.

Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, also known as the Kyivan Caves Monastery, has been an important center of Eastern Orthodox Christianity since its foundation in 1051.

In 2018 then-President Petro Poroshenko established the Orthodox Church of Ukraine in opposition to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which was part of the All-Russia congregation.

The split was accompanied by the division of property and the new church secured major assets.

With the start of the Russian “special military operation” in Ukraine, the new establishment has accused its predecessor of connection with Moscow.

In May last year, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church parted ways with Moscow, but nevertheless is labeled by the Ukrainian authorities and the Orthodox Church of Ukraine as "pro-Russian." (Anadolu Agency)