"Military Temples" and Propaganda – The Kremlin Uses the Church in Occupied Territories to Support the Russian Army
Kyiv • UNN
The occupiers are replacing Ukrainian priests with representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church. Religious structures are establishing military temples and providing supplies for the Russian army.
In the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, Russia is displacing Ukrainian clergy and replacing them with representatives of the Russian episcopate, using the church as a tool for propaganda and support for the Russian army. This was reported by the Center for Strategic Communications, according to UNN.
"Military temples" and support for the occupation forces
According to the Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights, Dmytro Lubinets, the structures of the Russian Orthodox Church in the occupied territories openly support the Russian military.
"ROC structures in the temporarily occupied territories openly support the Russian army, organize supplies for the military, and create so-called 'military temples' and infrastructure for units of the Russian Armed Forces," the Ombudsman noted.
Furthermore, the occupation administrations are displacing Ukrainian clergy and tightening control over the religious environment.
Propaganda about the "persecution of believers"
The Center for Strategic Communications notes that, in parallel, the Kremlin continues an information campaign regarding the alleged "persecution of believers" in Ukraine.
According to the agency, Russia uses religious themes as an element of propaganda and hybrid influence in the war against Ukraine.
