Lavrov: Russia Will Defend Orthodox Believers in Ukraine

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has declared that Moscow will not abandon Orthodox Christians in Ukraine amid what he described as “state-backed persecution” of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC). Speaking at a Russian Foreign Ministry Easter reception on Tuesday, Lavrov accused Kiev of systematically targeting Orthodox believers, clergy, and places of worship.

“Russia will not leave the Orthodox people of Ukraine in trouble,” Lavrov said. “We will ensure their lawful rights are respected.”

Religious repression amid war

Lavrov strongly criticized Ukraine’s campaign against the UOC, which he says has been brought “to the brink of legal liquidation.” The church, which formally cut ties with the Moscow Patriarchate in May 2022, has nonetheless been accused by the Ukrainian government of maintaining links to Russia.

Kiev’s crackdown has included:

• The seizure and vandalization of Orthodox churches

• Raids on religious properties, including the historic Kiev Pechersk Lavra monastery

• Arrests of UOC priests and parishioners under national security laws

Lavrov said these actions are being carried out “with the connivance and even support of many European countries, where the ghosts of neo-Nazism and Satanism are again lifting their heads.”

Kiev's push for “spiritual independence”

In late 2023, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky signed legislation allowing the government to ban religious organizations it deems connected to "aggressor states." This has primarily affected the UOC, which is Ukraine’s largest denomination by number of parishes and believers.

Zelensky has defended the measures as necessary for safeguarding Ukraine’s “spiritual independence” during wartime. The Ukrainian government has meanwhile endorsed the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), which is considered schismatic by both the UOC and the Russian Orthodox Church.

Global concern and Moscow’s stance

The United Nations has expressed concern over religious freedom in Ukraine, particularly regarding laws that allow Kiev to dissolve religious institutions on political grounds.

Lavrov, in turn, reaffirmed that Moscow will push for “canonical Orthodoxy to regain its central place in Ukraine’s spiritual life.” He stressed that Russia considers religious liberty a key issue in the ongoing conflict, viewing Kiev’s measures as part of a broader campaign of cultural and ideological suppression.