Russia installs own clergy in occupied Ukrainian territories

Russia continues to forcibly “russify” Ukrainians in the temporarily occupied territories. The Kremlin is now harassing religious communities, replacing Ukrainian priests with Russian ones, the National Resistance Center reports. 

“For example, the enemy is forcibly incorporating religious communities of the UOC-MP [Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate – ed. Those priests who refuse to cooperate with the enemy are replaced with seconded occupiers from the Russian Orthodox Church,” the NRC explained.

In addition, the Russian Orthodox Church representatives hold positions in other church communities in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine – for example, in the seized churches of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine. Particular attention is paid to Mariupol.

The so-called Russian “priests” are engaged in spy activities in the temporarily occupied territories, collecting data on patriotic parishioners and clergy. 

“This data is then passed on to Russian special services. The National Resistance Center emphasizes that all occupiers will be punished for their crimes against the Ukrainian people, regardless of whether they wear a suit, cassock, or military uniform,” the NRC said.