In the shattered remains of a once-thriving Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) parish in Crimea, a single icon hangs askew on a cracked wall. Its gold leaf tarnished, the image of Christ stares outward—a silent witness to the systematic erasure of religious identity in Russia’s occupied territories. This scene, recounted by Dr. Serhii Shumylo at April’s University of Exeter conference, encapsulates a grim reality: In Ukraine, war is not just fought with artillery, but with ideology, coercion, and the weaponization of faith.
The “Russian World” Doctrine: Sacred Rhetoric, Secular Crimes
Dr. Shumylo, a historian and expert on religious freedom, presented findings from his research at the Limits of Restrictions conference, co-hosted by Fundación Mejora and Exeter Law School. His paper dissected the paradox of Russia’s war: While the Moscow Patriarchate frames the invasion as a “sacred” defense of Orthodox “Holy Rus” against a “satanic West,” Russian troops systematically destroy Christian communities in Ukraine.
The numbers are staggering. Since 2022, over 640 religious buildings have been damaged or destroyed, including 596 Christian churches. Russian forces routinely convert seized churches into military bases or administrative offices—a tactic that turns sacred spaces into instruments of occupation. The Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), independent of Moscow, has been particularly targeted: By 2024, all 45 of its Crimean parishes were eradicated, with many churches demolished or repurposed. One OCU church in Novoazovsk was even converted into a morgue.
“This isn’t just collateral damage,” Shumylo argued. “It’s spiritual cleansing—a deliberate effort to erase Ukrainian identity through the destruction of its religious and cultural foundations.”
Persecution Beyond Christianity: A Multi-Faith Crisis
The repression extends far beyond Orthodox Christianity. Jehovah’s Witnesses, Muslims, Catholics, and Protestants face arbitrary detention, torture, and forced allegiance to Russian-aligned institutions. As of early 2025:
- 14 Jehovah’s Witnesses remain imprisoned in Crimea on fabricated “extremism” charges.
- Crimean Muslims , particularly members of the Mejlis (a Tatar cultural council), endure raids and mass imprisonment under false terrorism allegations. Over 350 have been detained since 2022, with many subjected to torture and denial of prayer.
- Unregistered Baptist communities are pressured to submit to Russian state registration, violating their principle of resisting government interference in faith matters.
The International Alliance for Freedom of Religion and Belief (Article 18 Alliance) has documented how Russian authorities exploit anti-extremism laws to criminalize dissent. For instance, a Protestant pastor in Luhansk was arrested after a forged letter—planted during a raid—accused his congregation of plotting “armed resistance.” Such tactics mirror Soviet-era repression, where fabricated evidence justified the eradication of religious life.
Clergy as Collateral: Murder, Torture, and Disappearance
Among the most harrowing accounts is the fate of Ukraine’s clergy. Over 67 religious leaders have been killed since 2022, including:
- Father Stepan Podolchak (OCU), abducted and tortured to death in 2024.
- Archimandrite Christopher (Khrymli) and Priest Andriy Chuy , illegally detained and deported.
- Priest Serhii Chudynovych , who endured threats of rape and family retaliation after his abduction.
Russian forces often target clergy for their symbolic role as community leaders. Priests are accused of “collaboration with Ukrainian intelligence” or “anti-Russian propaganda,” charges that mask efforts to silence dissent. Even those who survive face impossible choices: Priests in occupied territories are pressured to renounce Ukrainian language in liturgies—a demand that strikes at the heart of national and spiritual identity.
Legal Frameworks vs. Reality on the Ground
International human rights law, including Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, guarantees freedom of religion. Yet in Russia’s occupied territories, these protections are nullified. The Moscow Patriarchate’s influence ensures that only Russian-aligned churches—primarily the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC)—are permitted to operate. Other communities must either dissolve or submit to ROC control, a process enforced by FSB-backed religious centers.
Dr. Shumylo highlighted the irony: “The same Russian state that claims to defend Orthodox Christians abroad is decimating them in Ukraine.” This contradiction underscores how authoritarian regimes weaponize religious identity to justify territorial and ideological conquest.
Voices from the Shadows: Resistance and Resilience
Despite the brutality, stories of defiance emerge. In Kherson, a group of OCU parishioners secretly gathered in a basement to celebrate Easter 2024, defying bans on Ukrainian-language worship. In Sevastopol, a Jehovah’s Witness woman described smuggling handwritten hymns into prison to share with fellow detainees.
These acts of resistance challenge the narrative of Russian dominance. As one anonymous Ukrainian priest told researchers: “They can take our buildings, imprison our leaders, even kill us. But they cannot steal our faith.”
Conclusion: A Call to the Global Conscience
The conference ended with a haunting question: Can religious freedom survive in lands where faith is reduced to a tool of empire? The answer lies not only in Ukraine but in the global response to its crisis.
Organizations like USCIRF and the Article 18 Alliance urge accountability—sanctions against perpetrators, pressure on the Moscow Patriarchate, and support for displaced religious communities. Yet the broader lesson transcends policy: When faith is politicized, the victims are not just believers, but the very idea of religion as a force for peace.
As Dr. Shumylo concluded, “This war is not about Orthodoxy. It is about power. And power, when it claims divine authority, becomes the most dangerous idol of all.”
