Lavrov confirms Russia won’t leave behind Ukraine’s Orthodox believers
(MENAFN) Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has pledged that Moscow will not abandon Orthodox Christians in Ukraine, criticizing Kiev’s actions against the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) as a form of religious persecution.
Speaking at a Foreign Ministry event marking Orthodox Easter, Lavrov accused Ukrainian authorities of attempting to dismantle the UOC, stating the church has been pushed to the edge of “legal liquidation.” He alleged that churches are being seized and vandalized, and that clergy and worshippers are facing attacks.
Lavrov specifically condemned Ukraine’s effort to take control of the historic Kiev Pechersk Lavra monastery, describing it as part of a broader anti-religious campaign being carried out with the tacit approval—and even encouragement—of several European countries. He linked these developments to what he called the resurgence of "neo-Nazism and Satanism" in the West.
“Russia will not leave Ukraine’s Orthodox faithful in distress,” Lavrov said, adding that Moscow would work to protect their rights and ensure that canonical Orthodox Christianity is restored to its traditional role in Ukrainian spiritual life.
Ukraine has accused the UOC of having ties to Moscow, even after the church declared independence from the Russian Orthodox Church in May 2022. In response, Ukrainian authorities have conducted raids, arrested clergy, and taken legal action against the UOC, including a notable crackdown at the Kiev Pechersk Lavra, home to sacred relics.
In 2023, President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a law permitting the government to ban religious groups linked to countries deemed hostile, directly impacting the UOC. Zelensky defended the move as necessary to protect Ukraine’s “spiritual sovereignty” during its ongoing conflict with Russia.
At the same time, the Ukrainian government has voiced support for the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), which both the UOC and the Russian Orthodox Church consider illegitimate.
The United Nations has raised concerns about religious freedom in Ukraine, particularly in light of the new laws that enable Kiev to restrict various religious organizations.
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