THE IMPACT OF THE RUSSIAN INVASION ON FAITH-BASED COMMUNITIES IN UKRAINE

IFR ^ | February 2024 | Dr. Maksym Vasin

[tlozo]

The Summary of the Report

Background 2014-2021

Since the first months of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which began in February 2014, faith-based communities of various denominations have fully experienced the brutality and ruthlessness of Russia’s repressive policy in the occupied territories of Crimea and the Donbas region. Russian troops and Russian- backed separatists have targeted religious leaders and individual believers of most faiths, except the Orthodox parishes affiliated with the Moscow Patriarchate. Representatives of religious minorities were arbitrarily arrested, threatened, beaten, illegally imprisoned, tortured, and some were deliberately killed. The repressive policy in the self-proclaimed “people’s republics,” in those parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions controlled by Russia, was aimed at strengthening the Russian regime and preventing resistance. The occupying authorities have eradicated dissent and all manifestations of Ukrainian identity, brutally persecuted pro-Ukrainian movements and any form of opposition, and introduced full control over the civilian population, similar to the situation in Russia itself.

One of the tools to repress Ukrainian religious communities in the Donbas region was the introduction of Russian legislation, which was entirely copied. Believers have faced demands from the occupying authorities for mandatory re-registration, acceptance of Russian citizenship, submission of lists of members of religious communities, etc.

However, even fulfillment of all these requirements did not guarantee re-registration under Russian law. After all, the real goal of the occupation authorities was to encourage religious communities and their leaders to collaborate and support the Russian regime. Disloyal religious leaders and denominations were persecuted through arbitrary accusations of spying for Ukrainian or Western intelligence services, sectarianism, extremism, or illegal missionary activities.

The evangelical churches (Baptists, Pentecostals, Adventists, etc.), as well as the Orthodox Church of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, suffered particularly from Russian repression. In addition, the occupying authorities have declared the faithful of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) and Jehovah’s Witnesses to be “enemies of the people” and “extremists.” Religious communities on the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea, occupied by Russia since 2014, have also been subjected to targeted repression. In particular, many representatives of Muslim communities of pro-Ukrainian Crimean Tatars and Jehovah’s Witnesses were sentenced to long prison terms on trumped-up extremism charges.

At least 630 religious sites were damaged or looted due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine

* As of December 1, 2023

Full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine Previously, the Kremlin tried to disguise its direct military intervention in the events in the Donbas region from the international community. However, since February 24, 2022, President Vladimir Putin’s desire to completely conquer Ukraine and destroy Ukrainian statehood, national identity, culture, history, language, and religious pluralism became apparent. Hiding behind the slogans of protecting the Russian language, “denazification,” and “desatanization” of Ukraine, the Kremlin was actually implementing the ideology of the “Russkiy Mir” (Russian World). As interpreted by Russian propagandists, this ideology meant the physical destruction (genocide) of the Ukrainian people as a nation, the elimination of any mention of their cultural heritage, the overthrow of the Ukrainian government, and the disappearance of the Ukrainian state. For the sake of Putin’s imperial ambitions, Russian soldiers continue to die on Ukrainian land. During the 21 months of the full-scale invasion, Russian troops have wholly destroyed or damaged at least 630 religious facilities in Ukraine. Most were damaged by Russian missiles, kamikaze drones, and artillery, including targeted attacks on civilian objects. In addition, some places of worship have been deliberately looted by the Russian military, closed, or converted by the occupation authorities into administrative buildings. The Institute for Religious Freedom has also documented numerous cases of seizure of places of worship by the Russian military, which used them as military bases or as cover for their firing positions. This tactic of the Russian army resulted in an increase of destruction of religious sites in Ukraine.

Most churches, prayer houses, synagogues, and mosques were destroyed in Donetsk region (at least 146), Luhansk region (at least 83), and Kherson region (at least 78). The destruction in Kyiv region was also enormous (73) when Russian troops attempted to capture the capital of Ukraine in February-March 2022. Due to the ongoing hostilities, the number of destroyed buildings is increasing in Kharkiv region (at least 62), Zaporizhzhia region (at least 51), and Mykolaiv region (at least 41).

About authors and methodology

The Institute for Religious Freedom (IRF) is a human rights NGO, founded in 2001 in Kyiv, Ukraine. Our goal is to protect and promote religious freedom and other related human rights, facilitate inter- faith dialogue and church-state cooperation, strengthen democratic foundations and civil society in Ukraine. For this research, IRF conducted a written questionnaire and an oral survey of representatives of most churches and religious associations in Ukraine, as well as recorded video testimonies and documented specific Russian war crimes against religious leaders and faith-based communities

Website: irf.in.ua

Full Report:

https://irf.in.ua/files/publications/2024.03-IRF-Ukraine-report-ENG-web.pdf

[tlozo]

VIDEO TESTIMONIES OF RUSSIAN WAR CRIMES IN UKRAINE

Priest Vasyl Vyrozub

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAW97dKedCs

Rabbi Moshe Azman: Russians, what you are doing in Ukraine is horrendous

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5-Tsr20YkA

Pastor Dmitry Bodyu: «The Russian military seized our church building. I was imprisoned and told that I would soon be killed. For local evangelical believers under Russian occupation, a deadly threat remains.»

https://youtu.be/hAW97dKedCs

Imam Rustem Asanov: Russians hate us and have a goal to destroy the Ukrainian nation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPBeKYh9dM4

[Sirius Lee]

That's better than Ozempic. He should market his weight loss secret. He still has another 50lbs to go, but good for him. Good for him.

[Steven Tyler]

Ukes reported they cancelled all Churchs
How does this dude have a job.

Nevermind, he is the chaplain for the Nazi Armed Forces

[tlozo]

Ukes reported they cancelled all Churchs

Educate yourself, ONLY the Russian Orthodox Church has been banned in Ukraine since its leader Kirill(an ex KGB agent) has called for the complete destruction of Ukraine. ALL other churches in Ukraine operate under complete freedom.

The Russian Orthodox Church declares ‘holy war’ on Ukraine

https://thehill.com/opinion/international/4568860-the-russian-orthodox-church-declares-holy-war-on-ukraine/

[JonPreston]

Did you forget Zelensky banned the Orthodox Church in Ukraine?

Zelensky’s move against the Ukrainian Orthodox Church is a step too far

[tlozo]

Did you forget Zelensky banned the Orthodox Church in Ukraine?

Zelensky banned ONLY the Russian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarch whose leader Kirill, an ex KGB agent, called for the complete destruction of Ukraine. The Greek Orthodox Church and the Ukrainian Orthodox Churches were NOT banned since most Ukrainians are Orthodox.

Putin's Top Priest Says Nuclear Weapons Are 'Divine Providence'

https://www.newsweek.com/russia-ukraine-war-holy-1884577

[JonPreston]

Zelensky banned ONLY the Russian Orthodox Church

To answer the question your article asks; Only a Zeeper would fail to see the impact Zelensky has had on faith-based communities in Ukraine.

[Ultra Sonic 007]

You’ve conveniently left out this report’s “Recommendations for Response” without designating that the bits you did post are but an excerpt (poor form, in my opinion, for someone who’s been on FR for 15 years):

1) “To condemn publicly the Russian World ideology and the portion of the Russian Orthodox Church and Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, as well as other Russian religious associations and leaders who participate in Russian aggression and justify it, promote hatred and genocide of the people of Ukraine.”

2) “To create a Special Tribunal for the Punishment of the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine”

3) “To support the efforts of Ukraine to investigate Russian war crimes and to prosecute all war criminals.”

4) “To introduce personal sanctions against Russian officials, religious leaders, media workers, and other individuals responsible for justifying and (or) implementing repressions against Ukrainian religious leaders and faith-based communities on the Ukrainian territories controlled by Russia.”

5) “To designate the Russian Federation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism.”

Given that this report (from a Ukrainian NGO, mind you) was released in English, I’m pretty sure this is all for American consumption (because when we have two states engaging in religious oppression against each other [don’t pretend Ukraine doesn’t do it either, given their actions against the UOC]), because American meddling in Ukraine has gone so well for everyone involved, right?

[Steven Tyler]

Okay, you support closing churchs and denying religious freedom
Got it

[tlozo]

impact Zelensky has had on faith-based communities in Ukraine.

LOL, okay so tell me EXACTLY WHAT is the "impact" Zelensky has had on faith bases communities that are not under the Moscow Patriarch? NONE

VS Putin's IMPACT on ALL faith base communities that are not Russian controlled? Evangelicals, Protestant, Catholic, non-Moscow Patriarch Orthodox, etc?

Russian persecution of evangelicals exceeding that of Soviet era, Mission Eurasia president says-Aug 2023

“Most deny that this is the beginning of a new wave of repression by the Russian regime. [But] we are monitoring churches in the occupied territories in Ukraine through our Religious Freedom Initiative and have discovered that more than 500 churches have been seized, many pastors have been deported, some have disappeared and many have been killed by the Russian regime.”

https://www.baptistpress.com/resource-library/news/russian-persecution-of-evangelicals-exceeding-that-of-soviet-era-mission-eurasia-president-says/

[JonPreston]

LOL

And this comment of yours is why I call you tlolzo

[tlozo]

Okay, you support closing churchs and denying religious freedom

LOL, if some nutty Church called for the military invasion and elimination of the US, then yes, I would ban it. This contradicts the basic principles of Christian morality. That's what the Russian Orthodox Church is doing when it declared a Holy War against Ukraine. Got it?

Ukraine Is Now 'Holy War,' Russian Church Declares

Following the war, "the entire territory of modern Ukraine should enter the zone of Russia's exclusive influence," it said

https://www.newsweek.com/russia-ukraine-war-holy-1884577

[Steven Tyler]

...poor form, in my opinion...
Okay, I think you exhibit poor form, so there.

1) “To condemn publicly the Russian World ideology and the portion of the Russian Orthodox Church and Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, as well as other Russian religious associations and leaders who participate in Russian aggression and justify it, promote hatred and genocide of the people of Ukraine.”
I do not care about Nazi thoughts on a Church

2) “To create a Special Tribunal for the Punishment of the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine”

Good luck with that, the Nazi’s are losing the fight

3) “To support the efforts of Ukraine to investigate Russian war crimes and to prosecute all war criminals.”

Ahem, Nazi war crimes will be swept under the rug.

4) “To introduce personal sanctions against Russian officials, religious leaders, media workers, and other individuals responsible for justifying and (or) implementing repressions against Ukrainian religious leaders and faith-based communities on the Ukrainian territories controlled by Russia.”

Nazi projection

5) “To designate the Russian Federation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism.”

Nazi crimes against humanity may someday be revealed. Normal folk will not have the stomach for the facts

Given that this report (from a Ukrainian NGO, mind you (and you really believe that Uke NGO is without bias>LoL)) was released in English (big deal, not relevant), I’m pretty sure this is all for American consumption (you know less than nothing) (because when we have two states engaging in religious oppression against each other [don’t pretend Ukraine doesn’t do it either, given their actions against the UOC]), because American meddling in Ukraine has gone so well for everyone involved, right (the first insightfull observation you made. You are not a 100% failure)?

[Worldtraveler once upon a time]

--- "Given that this report (from a Ukrainian NGO, mind you) was released in English, I'm pretty sure this is all for American consumption..."

An apt observation. Having looked 'behind the scenes' of much "news" regarding the Ukraine-Russia war, the "readership" of many sites shows that English-speaking and specifically US readership is the target of "messaging."

My wife and I also read the news in German and French, for our time working in Europe, and do not find the same style of messaging. (And much of the European press speaks of Trump as quite the greater threat than Putin....)

One observes also that these quotes are also graphics, so they can be copied and embedded as "memes" by those who do such additional passing on of this kind of messaging. There is no question that, in part, there is an "information war" using propaganda techniques on all sides, and to pretend that one side doesn't play at this game is disingenuous. It's about money, in the end. 'Send money' is always meant, because "cui bono?"

[tlozo]

Given that this report (from a Ukrainian NGO, mind you)

It was clearly stated in the article that its from an Ukrainian NGO

[Blue Collar Christian]

In other news, the Romans destroyed the Temple in Jerusalem ‘til not a stone was left upon a stone.

That’s what happens when enemies destroy your stuff.

It’s a pitty but Jesus warned us of coming persection. We see it around the world, from within countries and from outside.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

thorlozine posting War Propaganda again…

PING!

[tlozo]

That’s what happens when enemies destroy your stuff.

Its more than that, its Russian persecution of ALL Churches that are not under Russian control.

USCIRF: Religious Liberty Worse than Ever in Russia and Russian-Occupied Ukraine-Massimo Introvigne

Two well-written reports highlight the systematic persecution of religious minorities by the Putin regime, and its crimes against religion in Ukraine.

“Over time, the Russian government has granted special recognition and privileges to the Russian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, which has contributed to the development of an environment hostile towards other religious groups,” the report on Russia describes the increasingly harsh applications of the existing laws against proselytization and extremism, and the continuing persecution of Jehovah’s Witnesses, followers of the Kazakh esoteric movement Allya Ayat, and many others

https://bitterwinter.org/uscirf-religious-liberty-worse-than-ever-in-russia-and-russian-occupied-ukraine/?gad_source=1

[Jane Long]

Definitely propaganda....necessary, to continue to feed their grift operation!

[Steven Tyler]

.... Got it?..

Yes, you are a certified loon, got it!