The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate as a Vehicle of Russian’s Impact and Propaganda in the Ukrainian Society during the Russo-Ukrainian War

Abstract

The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP) has played a significant role in advancing pro-Russian geopolitical and ideological interests in Ukraine, particularly since the outbreak of the Russo-Ukrainian war in 2014 and especially following the full-scale invasion of February 24, 2022. During this period, the UOC-MP has functioned as a conduit for Russian propaganda, actively disseminating narratives aligned with the ideological construct of the “Russian world” (Russkiy Mir), which promotes the spiritual and historical unity of the so-called “triune” Slavic nations – Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus. Such messaging has served to undermine Ukraine’s ecclesiastical sovereignty and to deny the legitimacy of an independent Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

The activities of the UOC-MP have significantly contributed to increasing societal polarisation and have exacerbated interconfessional tensions, thereby posing a serious threat to Ukraine’s national and information security. Public statements issued by the Church’s governing bodies have frequently cast doubt on Ukraine’s statehood and its right to self-determination, while diminishing the importance of its struggle to defend its territorial integrity and political independence.

The persistent influence of this ecclesiastical “fifth column” underscores the urgent need for state intervention. Legal accountability for clergy engaged in anti-state activities, combined with the development of effective institutional mechanisms facilitating the voluntary transfer of parishes from the UOC-MP to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, is essential to safeguarding Ukraine’s sovereignty and religious independence.