Russian Attack on Ecumenical Patriarch Echoes Soviet Anti-Religious Propaganda, Ukrainian Church Council Says

Ukrainian Churches Condemn Russia’s “Weaponization” of Religion in Ongoing Conflict

Ukrainian Christian leaders have issued a stern rebuke of what they describe as Russia’s systematic exploitation of religion to justify its aggressive policies. The Council of Christian Churches of Ukraine released a statement from Kyiv expressing “profound indignation” over the continued use of religious institutions as tools in Russia’s geopolitical strategy.

The Council’s statement was triggered by a January 12, 2026 report from Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service and a subsequent declaration from the Christian Interconfessional Consultative Committee (CICC), an organization linked to churches operating within the Russian Federation.

According to the Ukrainian religious leaders, the intelligence document contains baseless accusations against Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, representing what they termed a “culturally and morally unacceptable” public attack. The Council compared the tone and content of these accusations to “the worst examples of Bolshevik anti-religious propaganda” from the Soviet era.

“The timing and content of the CICC statement, which echoes the intelligence report’s positions in more measured language, reveals the intimate connection between the Russian state and the leadership of major religious associations within Russia,” the Ukrainian church leaders stated.

The Council asserted that both documents serve Russia’s state propaganda apparatus and target those who resist the “Russian world” (Russkiy mir) ideology—a concept that has been condemned by various Christian bodies, including the Conference of European Churches in its Helsinki Statement.

Drawing parallels to religious suppression during the Soviet period, the Council expressed its conviction that the CICC statement was issued under direct pressure from Russian authorities. “The Kremlin dictatorship once again confirms that it uses religious rhetoric and religious centers located on the territory of the Russian Federation as tools of hybrid warfare,” the statement declared, noting that this strategy extends beyond Ukraine to the Baltic states, Moldova, and other regions.

The Ukrainian religious leaders firmly rejected Russian propaganda claims about religious persecution in Ukraine, countering that genuine religious freedom is ensured in the country both legally and practically. They expressed solidarity with Ukrainian society and the state in opposing the exploitation of religion to justify military aggression.

“The promotion of the concept of a ‘holy war’ represents a fundamental violation of Gospel principles and religious freedom,” the statement emphasized, highlighting the theological concerns behind their opposition.

The Council concluded with an appeal to global Christian leaders, ecumenical organizations including the World Council of Churches, governments, and human rights defenders. They called for concerted efforts to protect religious freedom from “deliberate and systemic attacks” by Russia, support religious leaders facing persecution for anti-war positions, counter the weaponization of faith, and condemn the “Russian world” ideology as incompatible with Christian teaching and human rights principles.

The statement bears signatures from leaders of Ukraine’s major Christian denominations, including Metropolitan Epifaniy of Kyiv, Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, and representatives from Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant, Evangelical, and Armenian Apostolic Churches—demonstrating a unified Christian voice from within Ukraine.

This development highlights the religious dimension of the ongoing conflict, as churches become increasingly entangled in the geopolitical tensions between Russia and Ukraine. Religious institutions, historically significant in this region, continue to be influential in shaping public opinion and international perceptions of the conflict.