Ukraine has banned the activities of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate due to its ties to Russia. Now, Moscow is spreading a narrative in the US that Kyiv is "persecuting Christians" to weaken aid for Ukraine, says Mykhailo O’Herlihy, conflict-resolution expert, UkrInform reports.
The Russian narrative about the alleged “persecution of religious organizations” in Ukraine aimed at discrediting Kyiv and justifying aggression. In reality, Patriarch Kirill, head of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC), de facto blessed Russian soldiers to die in Ukraine, promising them forgiveness of sins.
According to O’Herlihy, these campaigns pursue three main objectives:
- to preserve Russian influence over a segment of Orthodox Ukrainians;
- to portray Ukraine as hostile to American values of religious freedom;
- to weaken support for Ukraine in the US Congress, particularly funding for military assistance.
The ROC as a lobbying tool and disinformation channel
Russia is “playing” on American constitutional values by promoting false claims of “religious repression” by the Ukrainian authorities.
To this end, Moscow spends significant resources on lobbyists who arrange meetings for so-called Russian “religious representatives” on Capitol Hill and at the White House, claims O’Herlihy.
The goal is to create a political environment in which support for Ukraine appears incompatible with “American values,” despite the fact that military aid enables Ukrainians to defend themselves against aggression.
Ukraine convicts Russia-aligned church’s cleric for pushing Russian propaganda
The US steps back from countering disinformation
O’Herlihy noted that the situation has become even more dangerous, as countering foreign propaganda is no longer a US national security priority. In the National Security Strategy published this month by the US President Donald Trump administration, disinformation is not mentioned even once, despite its direct impact on elections, trust in institutions, and democratic stability.
He also emphasized that cuts in funding for Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty have already allowed Russia and China to fill the information vacuum with even more disinformation, a trend that is likely to intensify.
