Faith Under Fire
How the Ukraine-Russia War is Tearing Apart the Christian Church
Introduction
This Sunday, while at church, I had the opportunity to hear from a Christian missionary from the Ukraine who shared some updates from his work there. He is now in the states, but I realized there has been very little written about the complicated realities for Christians mixed up on both sides of the Russia-Ukraine war. A lifetime of working within the military and intelligence community, has taught me never to just trust what the media, nor governments tell you about a war. They always have an agenda. This war is no different. I have seen an alarming amount of propaganda being spread across American news and social media sources, appearing to originate out of both Russia and the Ukraine. As I began to look into this, I decided to write this article about it, in an attempt to shed light on how this war has significantly impacted the global geopolitical landscape and specifically how it has created deep fissures within the Christian communities of both nations. This article delves the devastating effects of the war on the Christian Church in Russia and Ukraine, examining how religious institutions have been caught in the crossfire of nationalistic and ideological conflicts. Both Orthodox and Protestant Christians have suffered persecution, and the war has further complicated the religious identities in these two countries. This piece does not aim to advocate for U.S. involvement in the conflict but seeks to explore how religion has been used as both a tool of oppression and resistance.
Russia’s Orthodox Revival: State Control and Persecution of Protestants
Vladimir Putin’s government has overseen a revival of the Russian Orthodox Church, positioning it as a central pillar of Russian national identity. The relationship between the Russian state and the Russian Orthodox Church has grown increasingly close, with Patriarch Kirill frequently aligning himself with Putin’s political and military initiatives (Wilson Center, 2020). This resurgence of Russian Orthodoxy has provided a veneer of spiritual legitimacy to the state, blending religious identity with nationalism.
However, this blending of church and state has come at a steep cost for religious minorities, especially evangelical Christians and Protestants. Evangelical Christians have been viewed with suspicion by the Russian government, which associates them with foreign influences and Western ideologies. According to Mission Network News (2023), evangelical communities in southern Russia have faced systematic harassment, with pastors arrested, churches raided, and congregations dispersed. Russia’s draconian laws against "illegal missionary activity" have provided a legal framework for the suppression of Protestant and evangelical Christians (Pulitzer Center, 2023).
The war has intensified this repression. Evangelical communities are often seen as unpatriotic or even subversive, particularly if they oppose the war. As a result, evangelical Christians in Russia have been placed in an increasingly precarious position, torn between their faith and the state’s demand for loyalty (Time, 2023). According to Christian History Institute (2024), the state’s persecution of Protestants represents an effort to consolidate control over the religious narrative in Russia, particularly as the state leans on the Orthodox Church to justify its military actions in Ukraine.
Ukraine’s Religious Identity Crisis: Orthodox Schism and Persecution
In Ukraine, the war has exacerbated an already fragile religious identity. The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP) has been a focal point of tension, as it maintains historical ties to Russia. On the other side of the divide, the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), which gained formal independence from Moscow in 2018, has become a key player in Ukraine’s efforts to distance itself from Russia (Christianity Today, 2023).
The UOC-MP has faced increasing scrutiny from Ukrainian authorities, who view it as a potential collaborator with Russian forces. According to the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (2023), this has led to the Ukrainian government enacting measures such as closing UOC-MP churches and arresting clergy members suspected of cooperating with Russian forces. In August 2024, Ukraine’s parliament passed a law banning Russian-affiliated churches, which included the UOC-MP. While some view this as a necessary national security measure, it has also sparked concerns about religious freedom (Reuters, 2024).
These actions have left many Orthodox Christians in Ukraine in a state of spiritual crisis. For centuries, the UOC-MP has been a central part of Ukraine’s religious landscape, and its sudden repression has led to feelings of alienation among believers. The government’s hard stance on the UOC-MP has raised difficult questions about whether Ukraine’s commitment to religious freedom can survive the pressures of war (Christianity Today, 2023).
Meanwhile, Protestant Christians in Ukraine have also faced significant persecution, particularly in Russian-occupied territories such as Donetsk and Luhansk. According to the Pulitzer Center (2023), Protestant churches in these regions have been targeted by Russian-backed separatists, with pastors being forced into hiding and church properties being confiscated. The war has created a dangerous environment for non-Orthodox Christians, as both sides view them with suspicion.
Humanitarian Efforts: Christians Respond Amid Persecution
Despite the intense pressure on religious communities, both Orthodox and Protestant Christians in Ukraine and Russia have been at the forefront of humanitarian efforts. Ukrainian Christian communities, particularly Protestants and evangelicals, have played a vital role in providing aid to displaced persons and those affected by the conflict. According to Outreach Magazine (2023), Christian groups in Ukraine have offered shelter, food, and spiritual support to millions of refugees and displaced persons, often risking their lives in the process.
Similarly, evangelical Christians in Russia, despite facing government repression, have engaged in significant humanitarian efforts. In southern Russia, many evangelical churches have provided aid to Ukrainian refugees, a move that has further strained their relationship with the state. Mission Network News (2023) reported that many of these churches have continued their work despite government threats and crackdowns, with congregants insisting that their loyalty is to their faith rather than the state.
These humanitarian actions have been met with opposition from both governments. In Ukraine, Protestant groups operating in Russian-controlled territories are often viewed with suspicion, while in Russia, evangelical Christians are targeted for their perceived connections to the West. Nevertheless, these communities have persevered in their mission to serve those in need.
Religious Propaganda: Shaping the Narrative of War
Religion has become a key battleground in the propaganda war between Russia and Ukraine. Both nations have weaponized religious narratives to garner support, both domestically and internationally. The Russian Orthodox Church, under Patriarch Kirill, has played a central role in justifying Russia’s military actions. Kirill has repeatedly referred to the conflict as a "spiritual defense" against the West, framing the war as a struggle for the soul of the Orthodox world (Carnegie Endowment, 2023).
This narrative has been pushed aggressively by Russian state media, which portrays Ukraine as a morally corrupt nation aligned with a "godless" West. According to The Dallas Express (2023), Russian propaganda frequently emphasizes the idea that Russia is a bastion of Christian values, defending the faith from Western secularism and neoliberalism. This narrative has been particularly effective in garnering support among conservative Christians in Russia and even in some parts of the West.
On the other side, Ukraine has used religious imagery to frame itself as a victim of Russian aggression, fighting not only for national sovereignty but also for religious freedom. Zelensky’s speeches often invoke Christian themes, portraying Ukraine as a Christian nation defending itself against the tyranny of an oppressive, state-controlled Russian Orthodox Church. According to the Carnegie Endowment (2023), Ukraine has successfully used these narratives to rally international support, particularly in the West.
However, the religious propaganda from both sides has deepened divisions within their own countries. In Russia, evangelical Christians who do not support the war find themselves increasingly marginalized, while in Ukraine, members of the UOC-MP feel alienated by the government’s actions against their church. The religious dimension of the war has created a complex and volatile situation, where faith is not only a source of comfort but also a tool of political manipulation.
Historical Tensions: A Longstanding Religious Conflict
The current religious tensions between Russia and Ukraine are deeply rooted in history. The Russian Orthodox Church has long claimed spiritual authority over Ukraine, a legacy that dates back to the medieval Kievan Rus’. However, Ukraine’s religious identity has been more pluralistic, with significant Catholic, Protestant, and Jewish communities coexisting alongside Orthodox Christians (Pew Research, 2014).
The religious schism between the Orthodox Church of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate has been a source of tension since Ukraine’s independence from the Soviet Union. The formation of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine in 2018, recognized by the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, was a major blow to Moscow’s religious influence in the region (Christianity Today, 2023). The ongoing war has only deepened these historical rifts, making reconciliation between the two branches of Orthodoxy increasingly unlikely.
According to the Christian History Institute (2024), religious identity in Russia is closely tied to national identity, with the majority of Russians identifying as Orthodox Christians, even if they do not actively participate in church life. This cultural Orthodox Christianity has become a powerful tool for the Russian state, enabling it to frame the war in Ukraine as a religious as well as a political conflict. In Ukraine, however, religious pluralism has been a hallmark of the nation’s identity, emphasizing freedom of worship and tolerance.
Conclusion
The Ukraine-Russia war has had a profound and lasting impact on the Christian Church in both countries. In Russia, the war has solidified the role of the Russian Orthodox Church as a tool of the state, while religious minorities, particularly Protestants and evangelicals, face increasing repression. In Ukraine, the conflict has exacerbated the schism between the Orthodox Church of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, leading to government crackdowns on Russian-affiliated churches.
Both nations have used religion as a key part of their propaganda efforts, framing the war as a struggle for spiritual as well as political dominance. Meanwhile, Christian communities in both countries continue to serve as beacons of humanitarian aid and hope, even as they face persecution and repression.
As the war grinds on, the religious consequences will continue to shape the future of Christianity in Eastern Europe, raising difficult questions about the relationship between faith, nationalism, and political power.
References
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Christian History Institute. (2024). Russian Christianity: Did you know?. https://christianhistoryinstitute.org/magazine/article/russian-christianity-did-you-know
Christianity Today. (2023). Ukraine law may ban Russian-affiliated Orthodox Church. https://www.christianitytoday.com/2023/10/ukraine-law-ban-russian-ukrainian-orthodox-church-uoc
Mission Network News. (2023). Fear or faith: Believers in southern Russia show the way. https://www.mnnonline.org/news/fear-or-faith-believers-in-southern-russia-show-the-way
Outreach Magazine. (2023). Ukrainian Christians keep sharing the love of Jesus. https://outreachmagazine.com/features/80651-ukrainian-christians-keep-sharing-the-love-of-jesus
Pew Research. (2014). Russians return to religion, but not to church. https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2014/02/10/russians-return-to-religion-but-not-to-church/
Pulitzer Center. (2023). Many Christians under threat in Ukraine. https://pulitzercenter.org/projects/many-christians-under-threat-ukraine
Reuters. (2024). Kremlin calls Ukrainian ban on Orthodox Church an attack on religious freedom. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/kremlin-calls-ukrainian-ban-branch-orthodox-church-an-attack-freedom-religion-2024-08-27/
Time. (2023). Russia's war against evangelicals. https://time.com/6969273/russias-war-against-evangelicals/
The Dallas Express. (2023). Is Russia the Christian nation fending off the godless neoliberal West?. https://dallasexpress.com/national/is-russia-the-christian-nation-fending-off-the-godless-neoliberal-west/
Wilson Center. (2020). Russian Orthodoxy resurgent: Faith and power in the new Russia. https://www.wilsoncenter.org/publication/russian-orthodoxy-resurgent-faith-and-power-the-new-russia