[A. Pole]

But the Russian Orthodox Church was not abolished & outlawed as was the Ukrainian Orthodox & Ukrainian Catholic Churches.

It was abolished & outlawed. Only when Hitler attacked Soviet Union and Russians were not willing to fight for atheist regime, Stalin allowed Orthodox churches to reopen.

[Solon]

It was abolished & outlawed

No it was not. Being persecuted in the early days and being under state control does not constitute being legally abolished.