Update May 2025:  This documentary is a must -watch.

A Faith Under Siege – YouTube

The invitation to join the sister of our charity partner’s manager for a church service during the war was both humbling and profoundly moving. Stepping into the large, brightly lit hall of the church in Kyiv (whose pastor turned out to be one of the teachers for FEBC), bursting at the seams with people of all ages, I was immediately embraced by an atmosphere of inspiring faith and hope. Though the prayers were spoken in a language I did not understand, their intent was unmistakable—fervent pleas for peace, justice, and protection. The congregation sang with hearts full of love for God, their voices rising like a defiant hymn against the surrounding turmoil.

I’ve struggled with writing this piece, watching with growing alarm as Christian friends and acquaintances seemingly accept the notion that Putin and Russia are defenders of Christianity. This narrative has influenced conservative stances on Ukraine globally, with some Christian leaders and political figures echoing such faith targeted misinformation that undermines support for Ukraine. My journey to Ukraine in July 2023 showed me a very different reality—one that compels me to share what I witnessed firsthand about the profound role of faith in Ukraine’s resistance, and to confront the disturbing spread of Russian propaganda about religious persecution when indeed it is Russia doing the persecuting.

A Nation’s Sacred Heritage

Ukraine’s Christian roots run deep, stretching back to 988 AD when Prince Volodymyr the Great embraced Christianity in Kyivan Rus’. This watershed moment established Eastern Orthodoxy as the foundation of faith in the region. My Ukrainian grandfather often recounted this story with great pride, painting vivid images of mass baptisms in the Dnipro River and the unifying power of the faith that took root in the heart of Ukraine. For him, it was more than just a historical event—it was a symbol of Ukraine’s enduring Christian heritage and its role as a spiritual beacon. He would remind me that, despite centuries of external pressures and conflict, including severe persecution in Soviet times, the Christian values instilled during Kyivan Rus’ baptism had shaped Ukraine’s identity, providing strength and guidance through every hardship.

But Ukraine’s religious landscape has evolved into something far richer and more diverse than many realise. During the Soviet era, when religious institutions faced severe repression, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in exile carried the torch of faith and national heritage. My grandfather, a priest in the autocephalous Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Australia, played a vital role in this diaspora movement. He not only preserved liturgical traditions but also nurtured the spiritual and cultural identity of Ukrainians scattered far from their homeland.

The East-West Schism of 1054 left a lasting impact on Ukraine’s religious landscape, solidifying Eastern Orthodoxy while paving the way for the formation of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in the 16th century. Protestant movements also gained a foothold during the 19th and 20th centuries, emphasising personal faith and community service. These denominations have contributed significantly to Ukraine’s spiritual and social life, even amid persecution.

Today, Ukraine hosts a vibrant tapestry of Christian denominations. The Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), which gained independence in 2019, stands alongside the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), which has ties to Moscow. The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, particularly strong in Western Ukraine, bridges Eastern liturgical traditions with loyalty to the Vatican. Roman Catholic communities, primarily among Polish Ukrainians, add another thread to this rich fabric. Protestant groups—Baptists, Pentecostals, and Evangelicals—have flourished, contributing significantly to Ukraine’s social and spiritual life.

The Reality of Religious Freedom in Ukraine

When Ukraine regained independence in 1991, it ushered in an era of unprecedented religious freedom. Churches could finally operate without government interference. Religious communities began establishing spiritual centres, missions, educational institutions, and charities. Street evangelisation flourished, and summer camps for youth became commonplace. Churches gained access to media platforms, freely spreading their message through radio, television, and the internet.

The Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organisations emerged as a powerful force for unity, representing about 95% of believing citizens. This interfaith body exemplifies Ukraine’s commitment to religious pluralism and democratic values—a stark contrast to the state-controlled religious landscape in Russia.

In my visit to Ukraine where I travelled across the country and interviewed many Ukrainians both in and out of churches and faith-based NGO’s – I saw no evidence of persecution or lack of religious freedom.

The Dark Reality of Putin’s “Christian” Russia

The myth of Russia as a bastion of Christian values requires confronting. Despite Putin’s carefully crafted image as a defender of faith, Russia ranks among the world’s least religious societies. According to a 2022 Levada Centre poll, only 9% of Russians attend religious services regularly. The country also has some of the world’s highest rates of divorce, abortion, and domestic violence.

Putin’s embrace of Orthodox Christianity serves a strategic purpose, using religious symbolism to justify his regime’s actions and generate cultural friction with the West. The Russian Orthodox Church, under Patriarch Kirill—who is reported to be a former KGB agent who spied for Moscow whilst in his role as priest—has become a tool for state propaganda, even declaring that Russian soldiers who die in Ukraine are “absolved of sin.”

Churches Under Attack

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, the targeting of religious communities has been systematic and brutal. Over 660 religious buildings, theological institutions, and places of worship have been destroyed or damaged. The devastation is most severe in Donetsk (at least 146), Luhansk (at least 83), and Kherson (at least 78) regions. The Kyiv region saw 73 religious buildings destroyed during Russia’s failed attempt to seize the capital in February-March 2022. The destruction continues to mount in Kharkiv (at least 62), Zaporizhzhia (at least 51), and Mykolaiv (at least 41) regions as Russia continues to shell civilian infrastructure with missiles and suicide drones, reaching even the distant Western regions of Ukraine. Churches that once served as sanctuaries have been repurposed as military centres by Russian forces. The statistics are staggering, but they don’t tell the full story of human suffering.

During my time in Ukraine, I met numerous pastors and chaplains who volunteered to serve as frontline ministers. These brave souls risk their lives daily, often being the only ones willing to venture into the most dangerous areas to deliver aid and medicines to those unable to evacuate. I listened in awe as I heard how they ministered to soldiers at stabilisation points, providing spiritual comfort before the wounded were transported to hospitals (and often they were doing the transporting!). Many would then speed back along treacherous roads on Sundays to serve their regular congregations. Beyond spiritual duties, these remarkable individuals help rebuild their communities—fixing roofs, constructing houses, delivering water and running camps for children in bombed villages. Their spirit of service flows to all, embodying faith through action in ways I was humbled to witness.

The persecution in occupied territories is particularly horrific. One evangelical church leader and his 19-year-old son were found tortured and killed after being abducted by Russian soldiers. Their crime? According to witnesses, the soldiers declared, “Your church has no right to exist, as it has connections with America and other Western countries.”

The True Face of Christian Persecution

The Russian authorities’ treatment of religious communities in occupied territories follows a chilling pattern. Churches are systematically closed, their buildings often repurposed for military use. Religious leaders face threats, illegal arrests, kidnapping, rape and torture. Even home gatherings have become dangerous, as Russian intelligence services use church membership data to conduct surveillance and organise roundups of believers.

The only exception to this persecution has been churches affiliated with the Moscow Patriarchate—and even then, only if they publicly declare loyalty to the occupying authorities. Russian soldiers have demanded to review sermon notes before services, stationed observers during worship, and forbidden the use of the Ukrainian language.

Disinformation and Its Impact

The spread of disinformation about religious persecution in Ukraine has found fertile ground among some Western conservatives. Tucker Carlson’s widely circulated claims about Ukrainian churches being burned and priests arrested by Ukrainians were thoroughly debunked by the Orthodox Public Affairs Committee. The video evidence Carlson used actually showed churches destroyed by Russian attacks, including St. George’s Church in Kyiv Oblast and the Sviatohirsk Lavra in Donetsk Oblast and a church that caught fire in Canada.

Churches As Lights In The Darkness

Despite the dangers, Ukraine’s churches have become vital centres of humanitarian aid and community support. Since 2014, they have provided housing, food, medicine, and essential supplies to thousands fleeing violence. During the full-scale invasion, churches transformed into humanitarian hubs, coordinating evacuations from devastated cities like Mariupol and Severodonetsk.

In Lviv, talking to the Baptist seminary’s head, I heard something unexpected: they’re experiencing their largest-ever surge in young people applying to become pastors since the war began. The revelation caught me off guard – in the midst of missiles and martyrdom, a new generation is stepping forward to serve.

When I visited Ukraine, I witnessed this extraordinary impact firsthand. Churches of all denominations, but particularly protestant ones,  worked tirelessly to save lives and sustain hope amid the chaos of war. Their dedication continued even as Russian authorities began viewing humanitarian aid as a threat and attempted to block these efforts in areas they controlled.

The Voice of Dissent

Among Russian religious leaders, few have had the courage to speak out against the war. Yuri Sipko, the 71-year-old former president of the Russian Union of Evangelical Christians, stands as a rare exception. Facing charges for his opposition to the war, he fled to Germany, inspired by Matthew 10:28: “Do not fear those who can only kill the body.”

Sipko’s words carry particular weight: “The crime is the destruction of Ukraine. Silence is also a crime.” He sees his fellow evangelical leaders’ silence as a betrayal not only of their Ukrainian brothers and sisters but of God’s kingdom itself

Looking Forward: A Vision of Renewal

During my time in Ukraine, I was struck by something unexpected and profound in my conversations with Christian leaders and humanitarian workers. Amid discussions of reconstruction plans and immediate crisis response, their eyes would light up when speaking of Ukraine’s future. These weren’t just dreams of rebuilding buildings—they were visions of rebuilding society itself.

“We’re not just fighting against something,” a young pastor in Kyiv told me, his hands wrapped around a coffee cup in a makeshift church office. “We’re fighting for something. For a Ukraine free from the old Soviet mentality, built on Christian values of love and justice.” I heard variations of this sentiment repeatedly from Christian NGO workers, chaplains, and church leaders across denominations. They spoke of using this moment of profound national trauma as an opportunity for spiritual and social renewal.

In makeshift churches and converted warehouses serving as aid centres, I witnessed these aspirations already taking shape.  Young volunteers, many of whom had never been inside a church before the war, worked alongside believers, united by a shared vision of compassionate service and community care.

The challenges ahead are monumental. Rebuilding destroyed infrastructure, healing divided communities, facing the immense psychological and physical traumas, environmental damage, UXO’s and navigating political pressures will require tremendous resilience.Yet there’s something powerful emerging from the rubble—a grassroots movement of faith communities dedicated to building a society anchored in love rather than fear, in service rather than control.

As Pastor Mykhailo Brytsyn, who experienced Russian persecution firsthand, powerfully stated: “Where there is Russia, there is no freedom at all. Religious freedom will return to the occupied territories only when they are liberated and returned under Ukrainian government control.” But beyond this immediate truth lies a deeper aspiration I encountered repeatedly: not just the return of religious freedom, but for it then to become a foundation for a transformation to a more just and compassionate society.

Christianity’s True Face In Ukraine

The story of Christianity in Ukraine during this war reveals a profound truth: faith often grows and shines brighter in tough times. Testament to this are the hearts and actions of those who selflessly help others amid danger and darkness. While Putin’s Russia cloaks its aggression in religious imagery, as if somehow the machinery of state power can fake faith, Ukraine’s diverse Christian communities demonstrate authentic faith through their sacrificial love and service.

The contrast couldn’t be clearer. On one side stands a regime that uses Christianity as a political tool while persecuting believers who don’t conform to its narrative. On the other stands a nation where faith communities of all traditions work together to support their people through Europe’s darkest hour since World War II.

For those seeking to understand Christianity’s role in this conflict, the evidence speaks for itself. The true defenders of faith are not those who wear crosses while ordering missile strikes on civilians but those who risk their lives daily to serve others in Christ’s name, regardless of denomination or creed.

As Ukraine continues its fight for survival, its churches stand as lights on a lamp stand and resistance—not through force of arms, but through the power of faith expressed in love, service, and unwavering commitment to human dignity. This is Christianity’s true face in Ukraine: not a weapon of war, but a force for peace; not a tool of oppression, but a source of liberation.

Other related readings:

https://kyivindependent.com/ex-mp-leader-of-russia-affiliated-ukrainian-orthodox-church-charged-with-treason/?mc_cid=031c85b8c3&mc_eid=e0dfaa7c1e