Since Russia invaded Ukraine, the Russian Orthodox Church has fully supported Putin’s imperial ambitions.
As a result, Ukraine took a bold, yet necessary, step of banning churches linked to Moscow to safeguard national sovereignty amidst the war with Russia – a move that is being celebrated across Ukraine.
This decision has provoked controversy among conservatives in the West who have been quick to accuse Kyiv of attacking religious freedom.
To be clear: such claims are baseless, as Ukraine is not banning the Ukrainian Orthodox Church; nor are officials trying to ban religion overall. Rather, the law aims to protect orthodox believers in Ukraine from Russian propaganda. The Russian Orthodox Church has long been a crucial weapon for the Kremlin, disseminating propaganda to further its military and intelligence objectives under the guise of religion.
Since Russia invaded Ukraine, the Russian Orthodox Church has fully supported Putin’s imperial ambitions.
As a result, Ukraine took a bold, yet necessary, step of banning churches linked to Moscow to safeguard national sovereignty amidst the war with Russia – a move that is being celebrated across Ukraine.
This decision has provoked controversy among conservatives in the West who have been quick to accuse Kyiv of attacking religious freedom.
To be clear: such claims are baseless, as Ukraine is not banning the Ukrainian Orthodox Church; nor are officials trying to ban religion overall. Rather, the law aims to protect orthodox believers in Ukraine from Russian propaganda. The Russian Orthodox Church has long been a crucial weapon for the Kremlin, disseminating propaganda to further its military and intelligence objectives under the guise of religion.