Editing Russian Orthodox Church (section)

===Post-Soviet era===
====Patriarch Aleksey II (1990–2008)====
[[File:Russian Orthodox Episcopal Ordination.jpg|thumb|upright=1.15|Russian Orthodox episcopal consecration by [[Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow|Patriarch Alexius II]] [[Patriarch of Moscow and all the Rus'|of Moscow and All Russia]]]]

Metropolitan [[Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow|Alexy (Ridiger)]] of [[Saint Petersburg|Leningrad]], ascended the patriarchal throne in 1990 and presided over the partial return of Orthodox Christianity to Russian society after 70 years of repression, transforming the ROC to something resembling its pre-communist appearance; some 15,000 churches had been re-opened or built by the end of his tenure, and the process of recovery and rebuilding has continued under his successor [[Patriarch Kirill of Moscow|Patriarch Kirill]]. According to official figures, in 2016 the Church had 174 dioceses, 361 bishops, and 34,764 parishes served by 39,800 clergy. There were 926 monasteries and 30 theological schools.<ref>Русская церковь объединяет свыше 150 млн. верующих в более чем 60 странах – митрополит Иларион Interfax.ru 2 March 2011</ref>

The Russian Church also sought to fill the ideological vacuum left by the [[collapse of Communism]] and even, in the opinion of some analysts, became "a separate branch of power".<ref>{{cite news |url= http://us.ft.com/ftgateway/superpage.ft?news_id=fto120520081735416422&page=1 |title=Russia's church mourns patriarch |access-date=8 December 2008 |author=Charles Clover |date=5 December 2008 |newspaper=Financial Times |location= London |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100329045043/http://us.ft.com/ftgateway/superpage.ft?news_id=fto120520081735416422&page=1 |archive-date=29 March 2010 }}</ref>

In August 2000, the ROC adopted its Basis of the Social Concept<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mospat.ru/en/documents/social-concepts/|title=The Basis of the Social Concept|access-date=5 March 2015|archive-date=27 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150327212920/https://mospat.ru/en/documents/social-concepts/|url-status=dead}}</ref> and in July 2008, its Basic Teaching on Human Dignity, Freedom and Rights.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mospat.ru/en/documents/dignity-freedom-rights/|title=The Russian Orthodox Church's Basic Teaching on Human Dignity, Freedom and Rights|access-date=5 March 2015|archive-date=27 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150327202203/https://mospat.ru/en/documents/dignity-freedom-rights/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[File:RIAN archive 749019 Opening of monument to victims of political repressions.jpg|thumb|upright|Opening of monument to the victims of [[Political repression in the Soviet Union|political repressions]], [[Moscow]], 1990]]

Under Patriarch Aleksey, there were difficulties in the relationship between the Russian Orthodox Church and the [[Holy See|Vatican]], especially since 2002, when [[Pope John Paul II]] created a [[Catholic]] diocesan structure for Russian territory. The leaders of the Russian Church saw this action as a throwback to prior attempts by the Vatican to [[proselytism|proselytize]] the Russian Orthodox faithful to become Roman Catholic. This point of view was based upon the stance of the Russian Orthodox Church (and the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]]) that the Church of Rome is in schism, after breaking off from the Orthodox Church. The Roman Catholic Church, on the other hand, while acknowledging the primacy of the Russian Orthodox Church in Russia, believed that the small Roman Catholic minority in Russia, in continuous existence since at least the 18th century, should be served by a fully developed church hierarchy with a presence and status in Russia, just as the Russian Orthodox Church is present in other countries (including constructing a cathedral in Rome, near the [[Vatican City|Vatican]]).

There occurred strident conflicts with the Ecumenical Patriarchate, most notably over the Orthodox Church in [[Estonia]] in the mid-1990s, which resulted in [[1996 Moscow–Constantinople schism|unilateral suspension of eucharistic relationship between the churches by the ROC]].<ref>Телеграмма Патриаха Алексия Патриаху Константинопольскому Варфоломею I от 23 февраля 1996 // [[:ru:Журнал Московской Патриархии|ЖМП]] 1996, № 3 (Официальная часть).</ref> The tension lingered on and could be observed at the meeting in Ravenna in early October 2007 of participants in the Orthodox–Catholic Dialogue: the representative of the Moscow Patriarchate, Bishop [[Hilarion Alfeyev]], walked out of the meeting due to the presence of representatives from the [[Estonian Apostolic Orthodox Church]] which is in the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. At the meeting, prior to the departure of the Russian delegation, there were also substantive disagreements about the wording of a proposed joint statement among the Orthodox representatives.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://orthodoxeurope.org/page/14/130.aspx#3|title=No 130 (October 21, 2007) » Europaica Bulletin » OrthodoxEurope.org|access-date=5 March 2015}}</ref> After the departure of the Russian delegation, the remaining Orthodox delegates approved the form which had been advocated by the representatives of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=3945|title=Interfax-Religion|access-date=5 March 2015}}</ref> The Ecumenical See's representative in Ravenna said that Hilarion's position "should be seen as an expression of authoritarianism whose goal is to exhibit the influence of the Moscow Church. But like last year in Belgrade, all Moscow achieved was to isolate itself once more since no other Orthodox Church followed its lead, remaining instead faithful to Constantinople."<ref>[http://new.asianews.it/index.php?l=en&art=10597 Progress in dialogue with Catholics, says Ecumenical Patriarchate new.asianews.it 19 October 2007.] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081226125657/http://new.asianews.it/index.php?l=en&art=10597 |date=26 December 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cwnews.com/news/viewstory.cfm?recnum=54270 |title=Ecumenical progress, Russian isolation, after Catholic-Orthodox talks|website= [[Catholic World News]]|date= 19 October 2007}}</ref>

[[File:Cross Procession in Novosibirsk 01.jpg|thumb|A cross Procession in [[Novosibirsk]], Siberia.]]

Canon [[Michael Bourdeaux]], former president of the [[Keston Institute]], said in January 2008 that "the Moscow Patriarchate acts as though it heads a state church, while the few Orthodox clergy who oppose the church-state symbiosis face severe criticism, even loss of livelihood."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article3172785.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080725095124/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article3172785.ece |url-status=dead |archive-date=25 July 2008 |title=President Putin and the patriarchs|author=Michael Bourdeaux|work=[[The Times]]'|date= 11 January 2008}}</ref> Such a view is backed up by other observers of Russian political life.<ref>[http://www.cdi.org/russia/johnson/2008-30-16.cfm Piety's Comeback as a Kremlin Virtue.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081211003954/http://www.cdi.org/russia/johnson/2008-30-16.cfm |date=11 December 2008 }}, Alexander Osipovich, ''[[The Moscow Times]]'', 12 February 2008. p. 1.</ref> Clifford J. Levy of ''[[The New York Times]]'' wrote in April 2008: "Just as the government has tightened control over political life, so, too, has it intruded in matters of faith. The Kremlin's surrogates in many areas have turned the Russian Orthodox Church into a de facto official religion, warding off other Christian denominations that seem to offer the most significant competition for worshipers. [...] This close alliance between the government and the Russian Orthodox Church has become a defining characteristic of Mr. Putin's tenure, a mutually reinforcing choreography that is usually described here as working '[[Symphonia (theology)|in symphony]]'."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/24/world/europe/24church.html?_r=1&scp=4&sq=russia&st=nyt&oref=slogin |author=Clifford J. Levy|title=At Expense of All Others, Putin Picks a Church|work= [[The New York Times]]|date= 24 April 2008}}</ref>

Throughout Patriarch Alexy's reign, the massive program of costly restoration and reopening of devastated churches and monasteries (as well as the construction of new ones) was criticized for having eclipsed the church's principal mission of evangelizing.<ref>[http://portal-credo.ru/site/?act=news&id=67353&topic=618 Патриарх Алексий Второй: эпоха упущенных возможностей] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090803072116/http://portal-credo.ru/site/?act=news&id=67353&topic=618 |date=3 August 2009 }} RISU 11 December 2008</ref><ref>[http://kommersant.ru/doc.aspx?DocsID=1094071&ThemesID=1011 Ветряные мельницы православия Kommersant, 15 December 2008].</ref>

On 5 December 2008, the day of Patriarch Alexy's death, the ''[[Financial Times]]'' said: "While the church had been a force for liberal reform under the Soviet Union, it soon became a center of strength for conservatives and nationalists in the post-communist era. Alexei's death could well result in an even more conservative church."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://us.ft.com/ftgateway/superpage.ft?news_id=fto120520081735416422&page=2 |title=Russia's church mourns patriarch |access-date=8 December 2008 |first=Charles |last=Clover |date=5 December 2008 |work=The [[Financial Times]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100329050911/http://us.ft.com/ftgateway/superpage.ft?news_id=fto120520081735416422&page=2 |archive-date=29 March 2010 }}</ref>

====Patriarch Kirill (since 2009)====
[[File:Annual procession with the Albazin icon.jpg|thumb|Annual procession with the Albazin icon, [[Jewish Autonomous Region]], Russian Far East.]]

On 27 January 2009, the [[Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church|ROC Local Council]] elected Metropolitan [[Patriarch Kirill of Moscow|Kirill of Smolensk]] Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus′ by 508 votes out of a total of 700.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://iz.ru/rubric/obshchestvo|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090301054312/http://www.izvestia.ru/obshestvo/article3124663/|url-status=dead|title=Общество – свежие и последние новости из жизни общества в мире и России, комментарии, интервью очевидцев|archivedate=1 March 2009|website=iz.ru|language=RU|accessdate=25 December 2022}}</ref> He was enthroned on 1 February 2009.

Patriarch Kirill implemented reforms in the administrative structure of the Moscow Patriarchate: on 27 July 2011 the Holy Synod established the Central Asian Metropolitan District, reorganizing the structure of the Church in Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan.<ref>Решением Священного Синода образован Среднеазиатский митрополичий округ</ref> In addition, on 6 October 2011, at the request of the Patriarch, the Holy Synod introduced the metropoly (Russian: митрополия, mitropoliya), administrative structure bringing together neighboring eparchies.<ref>ЖУРНАЛЫ заседания Священного Синода от 5–6 октября 2011 года</ref>

Under Patriarch Kirill, the ROC continued to maintain close ties with the Kremlin enjoying the patronage of president [[Vladimir Putin]], who has sought to mobilize Russian Orthodoxy both inside and outside Russia.<ref name="defiance" /><ref name="firepower_2016_09_14_nytimes_com">{{cite news|author=Andrew Higgins |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/14/world/europe/russia-orthodox-church.html |title=In Expanding Russian Influence, Faith Combines With Firepower|date= September 13, 2016|work=[[New York Times]]|accessdate= January 26, 2022}}</ref> Patriarch Kirill endorsed Putin's [[2012 Russian presidential election|election in 2012]], referring in February to Putin's tenure in the 2000s as "God's miracle".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.patriarchia.ru/db/text/2005767.html|title=Стенограмма встречи председателя Правительства РФ В.В. Путина со Святейшим Патриархом Кириллом и лидерами традиционных религиозных общин России / Статьи / Патриархия.ru|website=www.patriarchia.ru|accessdate=25 December 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|editor=Julia Gerlach and Jochen Töpfer|title=The Role of Religion in Eastern Europe Today|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1F6vBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA135|year=2014|publisher=Springer|page=135|isbn=978-3658024413}}</ref> Nevertheless, Russian inside sources were quoted in the autumn 2017 as saying that Putin's relationship with Patriarch Kirill had been deteriorating since 2014 due to the fact that the presidential administration had been misled by the Moscow Patriarchate as to the extent of support for [[2014 pro-Russian unrest in Ukraine|pro-Russian uprising]] in eastern Ukraine; also, due to Kirill's personal unpopularity he had come to be viewed as a political liability.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://religiopolis.org/publications/11984-novye-starye-simptomy.html|title=НОВЫЕ СТАРЫЕ СИМПТОМЫ – ReligioPolis – Информационный ресурс Центра религиоведческих исследований|website=religiopolis.org|accessdate=25 December 2022|archive-date=27 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221127154454/http://religiopolis.org/publications/11984-novye-starye-simptomy.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sobesednik.ru/politika/20171023-borba-bashen-ili-neumerennyj-appetit-pochemu-putin-izbegaet-patriarha|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171023235538/https://sobesednik.ru/politika/20171023-borba-bashen-ili-neumerennyj-appetit-pochemu-putin-izbegaet-patriarha|url-status=dead|archive-date=23 October 2017|title=Борьба башен или неумеренный аппетит? Почему Путин избегает патриарха|website=sobesednik.ru|accessdate=25 December 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://zagolovki.ru/daytheme/rpz/24Oct2017|title=Из-за чего Путин сторонится патриарха: "Собеседник" узнал, за что Кирилл попал в опалу|website=zagolovki.ru|access-date=18 October 2018|archive-date=19 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181019012910/http://zagolovki.ru/daytheme/rpz/24Oct2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

====Schism with Constantinople====
{{see also|2018 Moscow–Constantinople schism}}

In 2018, the Moscow Patriarchate's traditional rivalry with the [[Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople|Patriarchate of Constantinople]], coupled with Moscow's anger over the decision to grant autocephaly to the Ukrainian church by the Ecumenical Patriarch, led the ROC to boycott the [[Pan-Orthodox Council|Holy Great Council]] that had been prepared by all the Orthodox Churches for decades.<ref name="defender_2019_05_19_ecfr_eu" /><ref name="ukrainian_question_2016_06_30_moscow_times">{{Cite news |url= https://themoscowtimes.com/articles/ukrainian-question-divides-orthodox-world-53509 |title=Ukrainian Question Divides Orthodox World |access-date=14 October 2018 |date=30 June 2016 |first=Ola |last=Chichowlas |work=The Moscow Times}}</ref>

The Holy Synod of the ROC, at its session on 15 October 2018, [[Moscow–Constantinople schism (2018)|severed]] [[full communion]] with the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.patriarchia.ru/db/text/5283737.html|title=Священный Синод Русской Православной Церкви признал невозможным дальнейшее пребывание в евхаристическом общении с Константинопольским Патриархатом / Новости / Патриархия.ru|website=www.patriarchia.ru|accessdate=25 December 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.patriarchia.ru/db/text/5283687.html|title=ЖУРНАЛЫ заседания Священного Синода от 15 октября 2018 года / Официальные документы / Патриархия.ru|website=www.patriarchia.ru|accessdate=25 December 2022}}</ref> The decision was taken in response to the move made by the Patriarchate of Constantinople a few days prior that effectively ended the Moscow Patriarchate's jurisdiction over Ukraine and promised [[autocephaly]] to Ukraine,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ec-patr.org/|title=Οικουμενικό Πατριαρχείο|accessdate=25 December 2022}}</ref> the ROC's and the Kremlin's fierce opposition notwithstanding.<ref name="defiance">{{cite news |url = https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/oct/14/ukraine-archbishop-bartholomew-defies-moscow-church |title = Archbishop's defiance threatens Putin's vision of Russian greatness |last=Tisdall |first=Simon |date=14 October 2018 |website=The Guardian |location= London |access-date=14 October 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2018-10-13/putin-is-loser-as-ukraine-s-orthodox-church-seeks-independence|title=Putin Is the Biggest Loser of Orthodox Schism|newspaper=Bloomberg.com |date=13 October 2018|via=www.bloomberg.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url =https://www.rferl.org/a/russian-orthodox-church-to-break-with-patriarchate-of-constantinople/29545003.html |title=Russian Orthodox Church Breaks Ties With Constantinople Patriarchate |publisher=[[RFERL]] |access-date =15 October 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url= https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-45870939 |title=Russian Orthodox Church severs links with Constantinople|date=16 October 2018|work=BBC News|access-date=16 October 2018}}</ref>

While the Ecumenical Patriarchate finalised the establishment of the [[Orthodox Church of Ukraine]] on 5 January 2019, the ROC continued to claim that the only legitimate Orthodox jurisdiction in the country, [[Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate)|was its branch]].<ref name="ЖУРНАЛ98">{{Cite web|url=http://www.patriarchia.ru/db/text/5330863.html|title=ЖУРНАЛЫ заседания Священного Синода от 28 декабря 2018 года / Официальные документы / Патриархия.ru|website=www.patriarchia.ru|accessdate=25 December 2022}}</ref> Under a law of Ukraine adopted at the end of 2018, the latter was required to change its official title so as to disclose its affiliation with the Russian Orthodox Church based in an "aggressor state".<ref>{{cite news |title=Ukraine's President Signs Law Forcing Russia-Affiliated Church To Change Name |url= https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-s-president-signs-law-forcing-orthodox-church-to-change-its-name/29671193.html |work=Radio Liberty |date=22 December 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Poroshenko signs law on Ukrainian Orthodox Church renaming |url= http://tass.com/society/1037495 |work=[[TASS]] |date=22 December 2018 }}</ref> On 11 December 2019 the [[Supreme Court of Ukraine]] allowed the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP) to retain its name.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.unian.info/society/10796912-supreme-court-of-ukraine-rules-in-favor-of-moscow-patriarchate.html|title=Supreme Court of Ukraine rules in favor of Moscow Patriarchate|website=www.unian.info|date=16 December 2019 |accessdate=25 December 2022}}</ref>

In October 2019, the ROC unilaterally severed communion with the [[Church of Greece]] following the latter's recognition of the Ukrainian autocephaly.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://mospat.ru/en/2019/10/17/news178948/|title=Statement of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church|date=17 October 2019|work=[[Department of External Church Affairs of the Moscow Patriarchate]]|access-date=13 September 2020}}</ref> On 3 November, Patriarch Kirill failed to commemorate the Primate of the Church of Greece, Archbishop [[Ieronymos II of Athens]], during a liturgy in Moscow.<ref>{{cite news |title=Патриарх Кирилл впервые не помянул главу Элладской церкви в богослужении: Священный синод РПЦ ранее постановил прекратить молитвенное общение с иерархами ЭПЦ |url= https://tass.ru/obschestvo/7075462 |work=[[TASS|TACC]] |language=RU|date=3 November 2018 }}</ref> Additionally, the ROC leadership imposed pilgrimage bans for its faithful in respect of a number of dioceses in Greece, including [[Archbishopric of Athens|that of Athens]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Church of Greece calmly monitors the actions of Moscow |url= https://orthodoxtimes.com/church-of-greece-calmly-monitors-the-actions-of-moscow/ |work=Orthodox Times |date=4 November 2019 }}</ref>

On 8 November 2019, the Russian Orthodox Church announced that Patriarch Kirill would stop commemorating the [[Patriarch Theodore II of Alexandria|Patriarch of Alexandria and all Africa]] after the latter and [[Greek Orthodox Church of Alexandria|his Church]] recognized the OCU that same day.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=15355|title=Patriarch Kirill to cease liturgical commemoration of Patriarch of Alexandria – Moscow Patriarchate spokesman|date=8 November 2019|website=www.interfax-religion.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191109210346/http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=15355|archive-date=9 November 2019|access-date=8 November 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.interfax-religion.ru/?act=news&div=73733|title=РПЦ считает невозможным дальнейшее поминовение Александрийского патриарха|date=8 November 2019 |language=ru |website=www.interfax-religion.ru|access-date=8 November 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url= https://orthodoxtimes.com/the-patriarchate-of-alexandria-recognizes-the-orthodox-church-of-ukraine/|title=Patriarchate of Alexandria recognizes Autocephalous Church of Ukraine (upd)|date=8 November 2019|website=Orthodox Times |access-date=8 November 2019}}</ref>

On 27 September 2021, the ROC established a religious [[Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Political Repressions|day of remembrance]] for all Eastern Orthodox Christians which were persecuted by the Soviet regime. This day is the 30 October.<ref>{{Cite web|date=27 September 2021|title=Russian Church has established a day of remembrance for the victims of repression|url=http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=16289|access-date=2021-11-14|website=www.interfax-religion.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=ЖУРНАЛЫ заседания Священного Синода от 23–24 сентября 2021 года / Официальные документы / Патриархия.ru|url=http://www.patriarchia.ru/db/text/5837973.html|access-date=2021-11-14|website=www.patriarchia.ru|language=ru|quote=2. В дополнение к ежегодному поминовению пострадавших в годы гонений за веру Христову благословить на территории России 30 октября совершение заупокойных богослужений о всех православных христианах, безвинно богоборцами убиенных или безвинно пребывавших в заключении.}}</ref>

====Russian invasion of Ukraine====
[[File:Архиепископ Иннокентий (Васильев) в храме апостола и евангелиста Иоанна Богослова СПбДА.jpg|thumb|upright|Russia-born Metropolitan {{Ill|Innocent (Vasilyev)|ru|Иннокентий (Васильев)}} of [[Vilnius]] condemned "Russia's war against Ukraine" and is determined to seek greater independence from Moscow.<ref name="Week-War"/>]]
Metropolitan [[Onufriy (Berezovsky)|Onufriy of Kyiv]], [[Primate (bishop)|primate]] of the [[Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate)]] (UOC-MP) called the war "a disaster" stating that "The Ukrainian and Russian peoples came out of the [[Christianization of Kievan Rus'|Dnieper Baptismal font]], and the war between these peoples is a repetition of the sin of [[Cain]], who [[Cain and Abel|killed his own brother out of envy]]. Such a war has no justification either from God or from people".<ref>{{cite news |title=Moscow and Ukrainian Orthodox leaders call for peace – but define it differently|url=https://religionnews.com/2022/02/24/orthodox-patriarch-of-moscow-kirill-calls-on-all-parties-to-avoid-civilian-casualties-in-ukraine/ |work=Religion News Service |date=24 February 2022}}</ref> He also appealed directly to Putin, asking for an immediate end to the "fratricidal war".<ref>{{cite web |author=NewsRoom |title=Metropolitan Onufriy: Russia has started military actions against Ukraine, pray for the army and the people {{!}} Orthodox Times (en) |url=https://orthodoxtimes.com/metropolitan-onufriy-russia-has-started-military-actions-against-ukraine-pray-for-the-army-and-the-people/ |access-date=28 February 2022 |website=orthodoxtimes.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=27 February 2022 |title= How is Russia-Ukraine war linked to religion? |url=https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-vladimir-putin-kyiv-europe-nationalism-ff22c6c17784674a5eaad0f0a1ff17ca |website=[[AP News]]}}</ref> In April 2022, after the Russian invasion, many UOC-MP parishes signaled their intention to switch allegiance to the [[Orthodox Church of Ukraine]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Maqbool |first1=Aleem |title='I'm shocked by my church leaders in Moscow' – priest in Ukraine |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-61109104 |work=BBC News |date=15 April 2022}}</ref> The attitude and stance of [[Patriarch Kirill of Moscow]] to the war is one of the oft quoted reasons.<ref name="Week-War">{{cite news |title=Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill's support for Putin's Ukraine war has fractured his church |url=https://theweek.com/russo-ukrainian-war/1012713/russian-orthodox-patriarch-kirills-support-for-putins-ukraine-war-has |work=The Week |date=19 April 2022}}</ref> The head of the [[Russian Orthodox Diocese of Lithuania|Russian Orthodox Church in Lithuania]], Metropolitan {{Ill|Innocent (Vasilyev)|ru|Иннокентий (Васильев)}}, called Patriarch Kirill's "political statements about the war" his "personal opinion".<ref name="Week-War"/> On 7 March 2022, [[Aleksandrs Kudrjašovs]], head of the [[Latvian Orthodox Church]], condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine.<ref>{{cite news |title=The Latvian Orthodox Church condemns the war in Ukraine |url=https://baltics.news/2022/03/07/the-latvian-orthodox-church-condemns-the-war-in-ukraine/ |work=Baltics News |date=7 March 2022}}</ref>

On 27 February 2022, a group of 286 Russian Orthodox priests published an open letter calling for an end to the war and criticised the suppression of non-violent [[2022 anti-war protests in Russia|anti-war protests in Russia]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Russian Orthodox priest arrested for anti-war stance |url=https://cruxnow.com/church-in-europe/2022/03/russian-orthodox-priest-arrested-for-anti-war-stance |work=Crux |date=10 March 2022}}</ref> On 6 March 2022, Russian Orthodox priest of Moscow Patriarchate's [[Diocese of Kostroma|Kostroma Diocese]] was fined by Russian authorities for anti-war sermon and stressing the importance of the commandment "Thou shalt not kill".<ref>{{cite news |title=Russian Priest Defends Calling Ukraine Conflict a 'War' After $330 Fine |url=https://www.newsweek.com/russian-priest-defends-calling-ukraine-conflict-war-after-330-fine-1689762 |work=Newsweek |date=19 March 2022}}</ref> Some priests in the Russian Orthodox Church have publicly [[Protests against the Russian invasion of Ukraine|opposed the invasion]], with some facing arrest under the [[Russian 2022 war censorship laws]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-03-17 |title=Ukraine war: Russians grieve for fallen soldiers|work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-60769509 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title='Those who unleashed aggression won't be in heaven' St. Petersburg priest faces criminal charges for condemning Russia's war against Ukraine |url=https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/06/13/those-who-unleashed-aggression-won-t-be-in-heaven |work=[[Meduza]] |date=13 June 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Russian priest under investigation after criticising military |url=https://cne.news/article/1439-russian-priest-under-investigation-after-criticising-military |work=CNE News |date=13 July 2022}}</ref> In [[Kazakhstan]], Russian Orthodox priest Iakov Vorontsov, who signed an open letter condemning the invasion of Ukraine, was forced to resign.<ref>{{cite news |title=Russian Orthodox Priest In Kazakhstan Forced Out Over Anti-War Stance |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/kazakh-priest-ouster-defrocked-russia-ukraine-war-letter-condemn-orthodox-almaty/32476657.html |work=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |date=26 June 2023}}</ref> Former Russian Orthodox priest Father Grigory Michnov-Vaytenko, head of the {{ill|Russian Apostolic Church|ru|Апостольская православная церковь}} — a recognized religious organization founded by other dissident priests such as Father [[Gleb Yakunin]] — said that "The [Russian Orthodox] church now works like the [[Political commissar|commissars]] did in the Soviet Union. And people of course see it. People don't like it. Especially after February [2022], a lot of people have left the church, both priests and people who were there for years."<ref>{{cite news |title='Nothing to be afraid of': How Father Grigory became Russia's most prominent anti-war priest |url=https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2022/10/12/meet-father-grigory-russias-most-prominent-anti-war-priest |work=Euronews |date=14 January 2023}}</ref>

[[File:Kirill2013.jpg|thumb|''"We do not want to fight with anyone. Russia has never attacked anyone. It is surprising that a large and powerful country has never attacked anyone, it has only defended its borders."''<ref>{{cite news|url=https://orthodoxtimes.com/kirills-provocative-statement-russia-has-never-attacked-anyone/|title=Kirill's provocative statement: Russia has never attacked anyone|work=Orthodox Times|date=2022-05-04|access-date=2023-09-14}}</ref>]]
[[File:Dolyna (Kramatorsk Raion) after Russian invasion (2022-12-05) 09.jpg|thumb|St. George's church in the [[Sviatohirsk Lavra]] complex after Russian shelling in May 2022]]
Patriarch Kirill has referred to the [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine]] as "current events" and has avoided using terms like ''war'' or ''invasion'',<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.commonwealmagazine.org/orthodox-response-putin-invasion |title=The Orthodox Response to Putin's Invasion|magazine= [[Commonweal (magazine)|Commonweal]]|date=27 February 2022}}</ref> thereby complying with Russian censorship law.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/ukraine/2022/03/08/russia-free-speech-press-criminalization-misinformation/9433112002/|title=Russia increases censorship with new law: 15 years in jail for calling Ukraine invasion a 'war'|first=Celina|last=Tebor|newspaper=[[USA Today]]}}</ref> Kirill approves the invasion, and has blessed the Russian soldiers fighting there. As a consequence, several priests of the [[Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate)|Russian Orthodox Church in Ukraine]] have stopped mentioning Kirill's name during the divine service.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/news-60720034|title=Патріарх Кирило благословив війська РФ на війну проти України. Як це сталось|newspaper=BBC News Україна}}</ref> The Moscow patriarchate views Ukraine as a part of their "[[canonical territory]]". Kirill has said that the Russian army has chosen a very correct way.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.ncronline.org/news/world/after-supporting-ukraine-invasion-russias-patriarch-kirill-criticized-worldwide-0|title=After supporting Ukraine invasion, Russia's Patriarch Kirill criticized worldwide|date=15 March 2022|newspaper=[[National Catholic Reporter]]}}</ref>

Kirill sees [[gay pride]] parades as a part of the reason behind Russian warfare against Ukraine.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sangal |first1=Aditi |last2=Vogt |first2=Adrienne |last3=Wagner |first3=Meg |last4=Yeung |first4=Jessie |last5=George |first5=Steve |last6=Noor Haq |first6=Sana |last7=Ramsay |first7=George |last8=Upright |first8=Ed |last9=Vera |first9=Amir |last10=Chowdhury |first10=Maureen |title=Russian Orthodox Church alleges gay pride parades were part of the reason for Ukraine war |url=https://edition.cnn.com/europe/live-news/ukraine-russia-putin-news-03-08-22#h_de0516e0f59ac2214af21bbb0aaf152e |access-date=3 April 2022 |work=CNN |date=8 March 2022 |language=en}}</ref> He has said that the war is not physically, but rather metaphysically, important.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.ncronline.org/news/people/russias-patriarch-kirill-defends-invasion-ukraine-stoking-orthodox-tensions|title=Russia's Patriarch Kirill defends invasion of Ukraine, stoking Orthodox tensions|date=8 March 2022|newspaper=[[National Catholic Reporter]]}}</ref>

In the days after the world learned about the 2022 [[Bucha massacre|Bucha massacre by Russian invaders of Ukraine]], Kirill said that his faithful should be to ready "protect our home" under any circumstance.<ref name="proput">{{cite news |last1=Gedeon |first1=Joseph |last2=Toosi |first2=Nahal |title=The pro-Putin preacher the U.S. won't touch |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2022/06/22/patriarch-kirill-putin-russia-ukraine-00041388 |publisher=Politico |date=22 June 2022}}</ref>

On 6 March 2022 ([[Forgiveness Sunday]] holiday), during the liturgy in the Church of Christ the Savior, he justified Russia's attack on Ukraine, stating that it was necessary to side with "[[Donbas]]" (i.e. [[Donetsk People's Republic|Donetsk]] and [[Luhansk People's Republic]]), where he said there is an ongoing 8-year "genocide" by Ukraine and where, Kirill said, Ukraine wants to enforce [[gay pride]] events upon local population. Despite the holiday being dedicated to the concept of forgiveness, Kirill said there can't be forgiveness without delivering "justice" first, otherwise it's a capitulation and weakness.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.patriarchia.ru/db/text/5906442.html|title = Патриаршая проповедь в Неделю сыропустную после Литургии в Храме Христа Спасителя / Патриарх / Патриархия.ru}}</ref> The speech came under international scrutiny, as Kirill parroted President Putin's claim that Russia was fighting "fascism" in Ukraine.<ref name="religdisp">{{cite news |last1=Kelaidis |first1=Katherine |title=The Russian Patriarch Just Gave His Most Dangerous Speech Yet — And Almost No One In the West Has Noticed |url=https://religiondispatches.org/the-russian-patriarch-just-gave-his-most-dangerous-speech-yet-and-almost-no-one-in-the-west-has-noticed/ |access-date=23 May 2022 |publisher=[[Religion Dispatches]] |date=4 April 2022}}</ref> Throughout the speech, Kirill did not use the term "Ukrainian", but rather referred to both Russians and Ukrainians simply as "Holy Russians", also claiming Russian soldiers in Ukraine were "laying down their lives for a friend", [[John 15:13|referencing]] the [[Gospel of John]].<ref name="religdisp"/>

On 9 March 2022, after the liturgy, he declared that Russia has the right to use force against Ukraine to ensure Russia's security, that Ukrainians and Russians are one people, that Russia and Ukraine are one country, that the West incites Ukrainians to kill Russians to sow discord between Russians and Ukrainians and gives weapons to Ukrainians for this specific purpose, and therefore the West is an enemy of Russia and God.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.patriarchia.ru/db/text/5907484.html |script-title=ru:Патриаршая проповедь в среду первой седмицы Великого поста после Литургии Преждеосвященных Даров в Храме Христа Спасителя |language=ru |trans-title=Patriarchal Sermon on Wednesday of the First Week of Great Lent after the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior |website=Патриарх / Патриархия.ru |trans-website=Patriarch / Patriarchy.ru |date=9 March 2022 |last1=Kirill |first1=Patriarch of Moscow}}</ref>

In a letter to the [[World Council of Churches]] (WCC) sent in March 2022, Kirill justified the attack on Ukraine by NATO enlargement, the protection of Russian language, and the establishment of the [[Orthodox Church of Ukraine]]. In this letter, he did not express condolences over deaths among Ukrainians.<ref>{{Cite web |author=H.H. Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and all Russia |url=https://www.oikoumene.org/sites/default/files/2022-03/Scan%20of%20the%20official%20letter.pdf |title=Исполняющему обязанности Генерального секретаря Всемирного совета церквей протоиерею Иоанн Саука |trans-title=To Acting Secretary of the World Council of Churches Archpriest John Sauca |language=ru |date=10 March 2022 |via=[[World Council of Churches]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.oikoumene.org/resources/documents/response-by-hh-patriarch-kirill-of-moscow-to-rev-prof-dr-ioan-sauca|title = Response by H.H. Patriarch Kirill of Moscow to Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca}}</ref>

Kirill participated in a [[Zoom (software)|Zoom]] video call with [[Pope Francis]] on 16 March 2022, of which Francis stated in an interview<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fontana |first=Luciano |date=5 March 2022 |title=Exclusive {{!}} Pope Francis: "I am ready to meet Putin in Moscow" |url=https://www.corriere.it/cronache/22_maggio_03/pope-francis-putin-e713a1de-cad0-11ec-84d1-341c28840c78.shtml |access-date=22 May 2022 |website=Corriere della Sera |language=it-IT}}</ref> that Kirill "read from a piece of paper he was holding in his hand all the reasons that justify the Russian invasion."<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |last=CNA |title=Report: EU commission proposes sanctions against Patriarch Kirill |url=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251135/report-eu-commission-proposes-sanctions-against-patriarch-kirill |access-date=22 May 2022 |website=Catholic News Agency |language=en}}</ref>

Representatives of the [[Vatican City|Vatican]] have criticized Kirill for his lack of willingness to seek peace in Ukraine.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://religionnews.com/2022/03/10/with-war-in-ukraine-pope-francis-years-long-outreach-to-kirill-appears-to-be-in-ruins/|title=With war in Ukraine, Pope Francis' years long outreach to Kirill appears to be in ruins|date=10 March 2022}}</ref> On 3 April, the former [[Archbishop of Canterbury]] [[Rowan Williams]] said there was a strong case for expelling the Russian Orthodox Church from the WCC, saying, "When a Church is actively supporting a war of aggression, failing to condemn nakedly obvious breaches of any kind of ethical conduct in wartime, then other Churches do have the right to raise the question ... I am still waiting for any senior member of the Orthodox hierarchy to say that the slaughter of the innocent is condemned unequivocally by all forms of Christianity."<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.thetablet.co.uk/news/15226/expel-russian-orthodox-from-wcc-says-rowan-williams |title=Expel Russian Orthodox from WCC says Rowan Williams |first=Patrick |last=Hudson |website=The Tablet |date=4 April 2022 |access-date=5 April 2022 |archive-date=12 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220712062803/https://www.thetablet.co.uk/news/15226/expel-russian-orthodox-from-wcc-says-rowan-williams |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The Russian Orthodox St Nicholas church in [[Amsterdam]], Netherlands, has declared that it is no longer possible to function within the Moscow patriarchate because of the attitude that Kirill has taken to the Russian invasion, and instead requested to join the [[Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/mar/13/russian-orthodox-church-in-amsterdam-announces-split-with-moscow|title=Russian Orthodox church in Amsterdam announces split with Moscow|date=13 March 2022|website=the Guardian}}</ref> The [[Religion in Lithuania#Eastern Orthodoxy|Russian Orthodox Church in Lithuania]] has declared that they do not share the political views and perception of Kirill and therefore are seeking independence from Moscow.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://orthodoxtimes.com/orthodox-church-of-lithuania-to-seek-independence-from-moscow/|title=Orthodox Church of Lithuania to seek independence from Moscow|website=orthodoxtimes.com}}</ref>

On 10 April 2022, 200 priests from the [[Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate)]] released an open request to the [[Primate (bishop)|primates]] of the other [[Organization of the Eastern Orthodox Church#Autocephalous Eastern Orthodox churches|autocephalous Eastern Orthodox Churches]], asking them to convene a Council of Primates of the Ancient Eastern Churches at the Pan-Orthodox level and try Kirill for the heresy of preaching the "Doctrine of the [[Russian world]]" and the moral crimes of "blessing the war against Ukraine and fully supporting the aggressive nature of Russian troops on the territory of Ukraine." They noted that they "can't continue to remain in any form of [[Canonical territory|canonical subordination]] to the Moscow Patriarch," and requested that the Council of Primates "bring Patriarch Kirill to justice and deprive him of the right to hold the patriarchal throne."<ref>{{Cite web |title=About 200 priests of the UOC-MP demand International Ecclesiastical Tribunal for Kiril |url=https://risu.ua/en/international-ecclesiastical-tribunal-for-cyril---almost-200-priests-of-the-uoc-mp-demand_n128244 |access-date=12 April 2022 |website=Religious Information Service of Ukraine |language=en}}</ref><ref>[https://orthodoxtimes.com/pressure-on-kirill-intensifies-400-priests-call-for-condemnation-by-world-orthodoxy/ "Pressure on Kirill intensifies – 400 priests call for condemnation by world Orthodoxy"], Orthodox Times, 14 April 2022</ref>

When the [[Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate)]] removed itself from the Moscow Patriarchate on 27 May 2022, Kirill claimed that the "spirits of malice" wanted to separate the Russian and Ukrainian peoples but they will not succeed.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2022/05/29/patriarch-kirill-understands-ukraine-church-schism-a77830 | title=Patriarch Kirill 'Understands' Ukraine Church Schism|work=The Moscow Times | date=29 May 2022 }}</ref> The Ukrainian church released a declaration in which it stated "it had adopted relevant additions and changes to the Statute on the Administration of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which testify to the complete autonomy and independence of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church."<ref name=":1travnya-2022-roku">{{Cite web |date=2022-05-27 |title=Resolution of the Council of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of May 27, 2022 |url=https://news.church.ua/2022/05/27/postanova-soboru-ukrajinskoji-pravoslavnoji-cerkvi-vid-27-travnya-2022-roku/ |access-date=2022-05-28 |website=Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patrirachate) |language=Ukrainian}}</ref> The church did not publish its new constitution.<ref name="yevtushenkoUOCMPKir">{{Cite web|url=https://www.politico.eu/article/ukraine-hunts-collaborators-ukrainian-orthodox-church-moscow-patriarchate-mykola-yevtushenko/|title=Ukraine hunts collaborators in its divided church|website=[[Politico]]|date=9 December 2022|accessdate=29 March 2023}}</ref> Although in this Ukrainian Orthodox Church clergymen now claims that 'any provisions that at least somehow hinted at or indicated the connection with Moscow were excluded' the Russian Orthodox Church ignores this and continues to include UOC-MP clerics in its various commissions or working groups despite these individuals not agreeing to this nor even wanting to be included.<ref name="ROC32207628">
* {{Cite news |website=[[Radio Free Europe]] |date=4 January 2023 |url=https://www.radiosvoboda.org/a/rpts-kyrylo-putin-ukrayina-uptsmp-vyibr/32207628.html|language=Ukrainian|author=Dmytro Horevo |title=The Russian Orthodox Church does not recognize the independence of Ukraine or the independence of the UOC|access-date=6 January 2023}}
* {{Cite news |website=Official website of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate)|date=31 December 2022 |url=https://news.church.ua/2022/12/31/the-charter-of-the-uoc-does-not-contain-any-provisions-that-would-even-hint-at-the-connection-with-moscow-the-head-of-the-legal-department/?lang=en|language=en |author= |title=The Charter of the UOC does not contain any provisions that could even hint at the connection with Moscow — the Head of the Legal Department|access-date=6 January 2023}}
* {{Cite news |website=Official website of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate)|date=31 December 2022 |title=The UOC priest protested his inclusion in the ROC Publishing Council|language=Ukrainian|author= |url=https://news.church.ua/2022/12/31/svyashhennik-upc-visloviv-protest-cherez-jogo-vklyuchennya-vidavnichoji-radi-rpc/|access-date=6 January 2023}}</ref>
[[File:Vladimir Putin's 2023 Address to the Federal Assembly (1).jpg|thumb|Kirill with Volodin, Medvedev, Lavrov, Shoigu and other prominent figures of the [[Russia under Vladimir Putin|Putin regime]] during Putin's [[2023 Presidential Address to the Federal Assembly|Presidential Address to the Federal Assembly]] on 21 February 2023]]
Cardinal [[Kurt Koch]], president of the [[Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity|Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity]], said that the patriarch's legitimization of the "brutal and absurd war" is "a heresy."<ref>{{cite web | url=https://cruxnow.com/church-in-europe/2022/06/top-vatican-prelate-calls-russian-patriarchs-defense-of-ukraine-war-heresy|title=Top Vatican prelate calls Russian patriarch's defense of Ukraine war 'heresy' |date=30 June 2022 }}</ref>

Kirill supported [[2022 Russian mobilization|the mobilization of citizens to go to the front in Ukraine]], he urged citizens to fulfill their military duty and that if they gave their lives for their country they will be with God in his kingdom.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brugen |first=Isabel van |date=23 September 2022 |title=Putin's top priest tells Russians not to fear death amid mobilization |url=https://www.newsweek.com/russia-priest-patriarch-kirill-mobilization-putin-death-ukraine-1745616 |access-date=24 September 2022 |website=Newsweek |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.asianews.it/news-en/The-%C3%BRussia-Last-Crusade-56728.html|title=Russia's Last Crusade|access-date=24 September 2022|surname=AsiaNews.it|website=www.asianews.it|language=en}}{{Dead link|date=October 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.eldebate.com/religion/20220926/kirill-moscu-sigue-llamando-guerra-santa-este-sacrificio-lava-todos-pecados-persona-cometido_62288.html|trans-title=Kirill of Moscow continues to call for holy war: "This sacrifice washes away all sins"|title=Kirill de Moscú sigue llamando a la guerra santa: "Este sacrificio lava todos los pecados"| access-date=24 September 2022|author=<!-- none -->|date=23 September 2022|website=El Debate| language=es}}</ref>

North Macedonia and Bulgaria expelled senior members of the Russian Orthodox Church for acts contravening their national security in 2023, raising questions about the church using their position to spy and to spread Russian political propaganda.<ref>{{cite web |title=Praying for Putin: Spies in Cassocks Threaten the West |url=https://cepa.org/article/praying-for-putin-spies-in-cassocks-threaten-the-west/ |date=31 October 2023}}</ref> In 2023 [[Patriarch Bartholomew]] criticised the Russian church, which he says is teaching a "theology of war". "This is the theology that the sister Church of Russia began to teach, trying to justify an unjust, unholy, unprovoked, diabolical war against a sovereign and independent country – Ukraine."<ref>{{cite web |title=Patriarch Bartholomew firmly denied the possibility of "reconsidering" the granting of autocephaly to the Church of Ukraine |url=https://risu.ua/en/patriarch-bartholomew-firmly-denied-the-possibility-of-reconsidering-the-granting-of-autocephaly-to-the-church-of-ukraine_n142200 |date=3 September 2023}}</ref> In January 2024, the senior priest of the Church of the Life-Giving Trinity in [[Ostankinsky District|Ostankino]], Moscow, was removed from his post for calling for peace.<ref>{{cite news |title=Russian Orthodox priest faces expulsion for refusing to pray for victory over Ukraine |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/jan/14/russian-orthodox-priest-faces-expulsion-for-refusing-to-pray-for-victory-over-ukraine |work=The Guardian |date=14 January 2024}}</ref>

During the [[World Russian People's Council]] headed and led by Kirill of late March 2024 a document was approved that stated that the Russian invasion of Ukraine was a "[[Holy War]]".<ref name="newsweek1884577">{{cite web |author=Brendan Cole|title=Ukraine Is Now 'Holy War,' Russian Church Declares|url=https://www.newsweek.com/russia-ukraine-war-holy-1884577|date=28 March 2024 |access-date=29 March 2024|website=[[Newsweek]]}}<br/>{{cite web |author=Tetyana Oliynyk|title=Russian Orthodox Church calls invasion of Ukraine "holy war", Ukrainian church reacts|url=https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2024/03/28/7448650/|date=28 March 2024 |access-date=29 March 2024|website=[[Ukrainska Pravda]]}}</ref> The document stated that the war had the goal of "protecting the world from the onslaught of [[globalism]] and the victory of [[Western world|the West]], which has fallen into [[Satanism]]".<ref name="newsweek1884577"/> The document also stated that following the war "the entire territory of modern Ukraine should enter the zone of Russia's exclusive influence".<ref name="newsweek1884577"/> This was to be done so "the possibility of the existence of a [[Russophobic]] political regime hostile to Russia and its people on this territory, as well as a political regime controlled from an external center hostile to Russia, should be completely excluded".<ref name="newsweek1884577"/> The document also made reference to the "[[All-Russian nation|triunity of the Russian people]]" and it claimed that [[Belarusians]] and [[Ukrainians]] "should be recognised only as [[sub-ethnic group]]s of the [[Russians]]".<ref name="newsweek1884577"/>

On August 20, 2024, the [[Verkhovna Rada|Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine]] banned the Russian Orthodox Church in Ukraine by adopting the {{Ill|Law of Ukraine "On the Protection of the Constitutional Order in the Sphere of Activities of Religious Organizations"|uk|Закон України «Про захист конституційного ладу у сфері діяльності релігійних організацій»}}.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Service |first=RFE/RL's Ukrainian |title=Ukrainian Lawmakers Approve Law Banning Religious Groups Tied To Russian Orthodox Church |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/ukrainian-orthodox-church-moscvow-patriarchate-legislation/33085600.html |access-date=2024-08-20 |work=RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-08-20 |title=Ukraine's parliament passes law banning Russian Orthodox Church |url=https://news.liga.net/en/politics/news/ukraines-parliament-passes-law-banning-russian-orthodox-church-in-ukraine |access-date=2024-08-20 |website=LIGA |language=en}}</ref> Ukrainian religious organizations affiliated with the Russian Orthodox Church will be banned 9 months from the moment the {{Ill|State Service of Ukraine for Ethnopolicy and Freedom of Conscience|uk|Державна служба України з етнополітики та свободи совісті}} issues the order, if this religious organization does not sever relations with the Russian Orthodox Church in accordance with [[Canon law of the Eastern Orthodox Church|Orthodox canon law]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ukrainian Parliament bans Russian-linked religious organizations, targets UOC-MP |url=https://english.nv.ua/nation/verkovna-rada-adopts-a-draft-bill-and-therefore-bans-all-moscow-ruled-religious-organizations-50444399.html |access-date=2024-08-20 |website=english.nv.ua |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Parliament passes law banning religious organisations linked to Russia |url=https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2024/08/20/7471107/ |access-date=2024-08-20 |website=Ukrainska Pravda |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-08-20 |title=The Ukrainian Parliament supported the draft law on banning the UOC MP |url=https://babel.ua/en/news/110038-the-ukrainian-parliament-supported-the-draft-law-on-banning-the-uoc-mp |access-date=2024-08-20 |website=babel.ua |language=en}}</ref>