Faith Under Fire in Russia’s War on Ukraine

Since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the country’s religious communities have been at the forefront of reinforcing national morale, providing crucial humanitarian relief and making the moral case for Ukraine’s sovereignty. With Russian missiles falling on religious sites and occupying forces preventing some churches from operating, Ukraine’s religious leaders have also emerged as important voices for promoting freedom of religion and belief.

USIP, the Atlantic Council, and Razom for Ukraine hosted a conversation with a delegation from the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations. These senior Ukrainian religious leaders — who represent multiple branches of Christianity in Ukraine in addition to the country’s Muslim and Jewish communities — highlighted the various roles that religious groups and organizations have played as part of Ukraine’s war effort. They also shared personal experiences from the frontlines and discuss the challenges of navigating religion’s complex intersection with the war.

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Speakers:

Peter Mandaville, opening remarks

Senior Advisor, Religion and Inclusive Societies, U.S. Institute of Peace

Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch, moderator

Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine

Yevstratiy (Zoria)

Metropolitan of Bila Tserkva; Spokesman, Kyiv Metropolis; Deputy Head, Department for External Church Relations, Orthodox Church of Ukraine

Yaakov Dov Bleich

Chief Rabbi of Kyiv and Ukraine; Founder and President, Union of Jewish Religious Organizations of Ukraine

Anatoliy Kozachok

Senior Bishop, Ukrainian Pentecostal Church

Vyacheslav Horpynchuk

Bishop, Ukrainian Lutheran Church

Anatoliy Raychynets

Deputy Secretary General, Ukrainian Bible Society

Ivan Rusyn

Deputy Senior Bishop, Ukrainian Evangelical Church

Akhmed Tamim

Supreme Mufti of Ukraine; Head of the Religious Administration of Ukrainian Muslims

Ambassador John Herbst, closing remarks

Senior Director, Eurasia Center, Atlantic Council; Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine

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The United States Institute of Peace is a national, nonpartisan, independent institute, founded by Congress and dedicated to the proposition that a world without violent conflict is possible, practical and essential for U.S. and global security. In conflict zones abroad, the Institute works with local partners to prevent, mitigate, and resolve violent conflict. To reduce future crises and the need for costly interventions, USIP works with governments and civil societies to build local capacities to manage conflict peacefully. The Institute pursues its mission by linking research, policy, training, analysis and direct action to support those who are working to build a more peaceful, inclusive world. Learn more about USIP