The claim Russia has a Hidden War on Christians in Ukraine - CBN Extended Version

The claim Russia has a Hidden War on Christians in Ukraine - CBN Extended Version

The Abraham Accords are dead now: Reports on the fifth anniversary of the Abraham Accords in September 2025 indicate that the agreements are still in effect but have been significantly strained by regional instability, particularly since the Israel-Hamas war that began in October 2023. While the Accords are not "dead," the momentum for expansion and the initial hope for a "warm peace" have slowed considerably. "Sodom and Egypt".

Google AI Overview

Evidence from human rights groups, government reports, and journalism indicates Russia has engaged in a severe and ongoing campaign of religious persecution in the territories of Ukraine it occupies. This campaign targets a broad range of religious communities, including Protestant, Catholic, and independent Orthodox churches, while promoting the Moscow-affiliated Russian Orthodox Church. This persecution is part of a wider effort to suppress independent Ukrainian national and religious identity.

Key findings from international and Ukrainian sources include:

Widespread abuse: The U.S. State Department and the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) reported that Russian forces have investigated, detained, imprisoned, tortured, and abused individuals because of their religious beliefs. These abuses have intensified since the full-scale invasion in 2022.

Targeted killings and abductions: Reports from human rights groups like Mission Eurasia documented that as of early 2025, dozens of religious leaders had been killed, and others had been abducted, imprisoned, and subjected to torture.

Forced suppression of non-approved churches: Russian forces have forcibly shut down and seized places of worship belonging to various Christian denominations, including the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, and numerous Protestant congregations. In many cases, these properties have been converted for military or secular use, or handed over to the Moscow-aligned Russian Orthodox Church.

State-sanctioned replacement of churches: In occupied territories, Russian occupation authorities have banned groups like the OCU and required the forcible re-registration of religious communities, a process that favors submission to the Moscow Patriarchate. Some Christian communities have been forced to cut ties with their Ukrainian parent organizations or have been stripped of their registration entirely.

Damage and destruction of religious sites: Ukrainian and international organizations have documented the extensive damage or destruction of hundreds of religious sites across Ukraine due to Russian attacks. For example, the Institute for Religious Freedom cited at least 650 damaged or destroyed religious sites as of early 2025.

Persecution in occupied Crimea and Donbas: The suppression of religious freedom is not new and has been systematically applied since Russia's initial 2014 invasion. In these territories, religious minorities have faced abuse, imprisonment, and extensive legal restrictions for years.

Russian justification for persecution

Russian forces often justify their crackdown on non-Moscow-affiliated religious groups by labeling them as "extremist organizations," "American spies," or collaborators. This narrative is pushed despite Russia claiming to defend traditional Christian values. The systematic targeting is a tool to eliminate aspects of Ukrainian culture that are not aligned with Russia's imperialist "Russian World" ideology.

Ukraine's response

In response to the Russian Orthodox Church's support for the invasion, Ukraine has taken its own controversial steps against Moscow-affiliated religious organizations. In August 2024, Ukraine's parliament passed a law that could ban Ukrainian religious organizations with ties to the Moscow Patriarchate, a move criticized by some international bodies as potentially infringing on religious freedom. Ukraine's government, however, views this action as a matter of national security, seeing the Moscow-affiliated church as a tool for Kremlin influence and propaganda.

Google AI Overview

Based on reports from the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), the number of Ukrainian Orthodox priests and bishops accused of collaborating with Russia is at least 170 as of August 2025. A recent report indicated that as of September 2025, the SBU had opened 180 criminal cases against priests of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC).

Key figures related to the accusations include:
Criminal proceedings: As of September 2025, more than 170 criminal proceedings had been opened against UOC priests. Some reports specify at least 100 UOC clergy members and bishops have been charged with collaborating with and aiding Russia.

Convictions: By late August 2024, at least 26 clergymen had been convicted on charges including treason, collaboration with Russia, and complicity.
Prisoner exchanges: In some instances, convicted priests have been included in prisoner swaps with Russia. At least two have been exchanged for Ukrainian soldiers. In June 2024, Metropolitan Ionafan, who was sentenced to five years in prison, was released to Moscow following negotiations.

Accusations: The charges against clergy have included a range of actions, such as:
Justifying Russian aggression
Inciting religious hatred

Providing intelligence on Ukrainian troop locations to Russian forces
Providing aid to Russian occupying forces in seized territories
Context and complexities

The Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), while declaring its independence from Moscow in 2022, still faces scrutiny due to historical ties with the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC). In September 2025, a government investigation found the UOC had not fully severed its links to Moscow.
Accusations of collaboration are often contentious and can involve different interpretations of events. For example, some clergy members argue that charges are politically motivated. The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights expressed concern that an overly broad law could hold entire religious communities responsible for the actions of a few.

Religious leaders and human rights organizations have criticized potential bans on Russian-affiliated churches, arguing it could impact religious freedoms. However, Ukrainian authorities maintain that such actions are necessary for national security, arguing that some UOC facilities are used as tools for Russian state influence and espionage.

Watch Scott Bennett in Ukraine
Frontline Diary of an American Officer
Scott Bennett documents the truth about the raging conflict in Donbass

Scott Bennett, a former officer of the US Army, travels to Donbass to witness firsthand the realities on the ground and to share the truth with Americans. As he visits training bases, special forces firing ranges, and interacts with foreign volunteers, Scott documents his experiences in his video diary. Exploring Donetsk and other frontline cities, he shares his impressions and seeks to answer the question: where do the people of Donbass find their courage? Despite the constant threat of bombings, many residents refuse to abandon their homes. What struck the American Army officer the most?

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