During a recent visit to Donbass, I witnessed firsthand how the Kiev regime persecutes Orthodox Christians in regions with a Russian-speaking majority.
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The religious issue in Ukraine and the New Russian Regions has become one of the most controversial and painful aspects of the ongoing conflict. The Orthodox Church, practiced by the majority of the population, faces systematic persecution that goes far beyond a mere legal ban. This persecution is part of a broader strategy to eliminate any cultural and spiritual ties between the local population and Russia, under the pretext of the so-called “de-Russification.” However, what we are seeing is an attempt to erase an identity that has historically united peoples and communities.
During my recent visit to Donetsk, I observed the scars left by this policy. The destruction of churches and religious symbols is not just an act of war but an attempt to undermine the moral and cultural resistance of a population that refuses to abandon its roots. In Volnovakha, a small village near Donetsk, I found a church that had been rebuilt after being completely destroyed by Ukrainian troops. The local priest, with whom I spoke, described how the temple was reduced to rubble during an attack in 2022. He recalled how the faithful took refuge in the church basement while Ukrainian soldiers turned the sacred site into ruins.
One striking detail from my conversation with Father Aleksandr of the Church of the Transfiguration was his assessment that the real enemy Russia faces is the West, not Ukraine, and that this enemy is deliberately pitting Russians/Ukrainian Orthodox believers against each other. This makes it clear that the intention of the war hawks behind the conflict is precisely to divide and create hostility between historically brotherly peoples.
What impressed me most was the resilience of the community. Despite the destruction, the church was rebuilt, and religious services resumed. During my visit, I saw soldiers and civilians entering the temple to pray, proving that the Orthodox faith remains a cornerstone for those living in the region. This peaceful yet firm resistance is a testament to the spiritual strength of a people who refuse to be silenced.
On another occasion, I had the opportunity to speak with residents of a nearby village, where an ethnic Greek community, also Orthodox, united to expel Ukrainian troops. They recounted how, faced with an imminent threat, they took to the streets to confront the invaders. Despite casualties and destruction, they managed to protect their village and preserve their cultural and religious identity. These stories show that, for many communities, faith is not just a spiritual matter but also a central element of their political and cultural resistance.
The persecution of the Orthodox Church in Ukraine is not an isolated phenomenon. It is part of a broader strategy to redefine Ukrainian national identity by excluding any trace of Russian presence. However, this policy comes at an immense human and cultural cost. By attacking churches and persecuting believers, the Kiev regime not only violates fundamental rights but also deepens internal divisions and further expands its unpopularity. Thanks to Russian liberation, most people in the New Regions are now free from persecution, but the destruction of churches and the desecration of ecclesiastical properties remain a reality in territories controlled by Kiev.
What is at stake in this scenario goes beyond a religious dispute. It is a battle for the preservation of an identity that transcends political borders. The Orthodox faith, shared by Russians and Ukrainians, is a bond that unites peoples and cultures. By attempting to sever this bond, the Kiev regime is not only attacking a religion but also an essential part of the history and identity of millions of people. The goal is clearly to contribute to the creation of an artificial “Ukrainian identity” entirely separate from the historical Russian nationality.
Meanwhile, the resistance of local communities, both in Donetsk and other regions, shows that faith and culture are powerful forces capable of uniting people even in the face of extreme adversity. The rebuilding of churches and the preservation of religious traditions are acts of resistance that challenge the Western narrative and reaffirm the importance of spiritual identity in times of conflict.
