Chair’s Statement on the Somber Anniversary of 2 Years since the Russian Aggression against Ukraine Accompanied by Severe Violations and Abuses, Killing of Priests and Destruction of Places of Worship

Two years ago, Russia escalated its aggression against Ukraine into a full-scale military invasion. This invasion not only exacerbated an already dire human rights situation, especially concerning freedom of religion and belief in the temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories but also killed religious leaders and adherents of various faiths.

Since the first months of the full-scale invasion, Ukrainian faith-based communities of diverse denominations have endured relentless persecution and violence. Tragically, numerous religious leaders and believers have become victims of Russia’s aggressive tactics, with thirty Ukrainian clergymen killed and twenty-six held captive by Russian forces in the past two years.

In Kyiv and Chernihiv regions alone, Russian forces have killed priests from the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, resulting in the deaths of Maksym Kozachyna and Rostyslav Dudarenko. Additionally, Volodymyr Bormashev and Hieromonk Feodosiy (Goncharov) from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church were killed during shelling. Other victims include Vitaly Vynogradov, the dean of the Kyiv Slavic Evangelical Seminary, and Oleksandr Kislyuk, a renowned teacher from the Orthodox Academy. The recent death of Archpriest Stepan (Podolchak) on Feb 15, 2024 in Russian custody, reportedly for conducting services in the Ukrainian language and refusing to align with the Moscow Patriarchate, epitomizes the brutal suppression of religious autonomy in occupied Ukrainian territories.

Additionally, the extensive destruction by Russian troops of places of worship, the number of which exceeds 600, coupled with reports of looting and the militarization of religious sites, underscores the egregious violations and abuses perpetrated by Russia in Ukraine. I paid a solidarity visit to one of such sites in June of last year and I was deeply shaken. It was in the area of the Bucha massacre – the house of worship of the “God’s House” Pentecostal Church. As part of the IRFBA solidarity visit, I initiated a Christian, Jewish and Muslim service there to commemorate the murdered ones, who must never be forgotten. It is with regret that we take note of the alarming trend of increased destruction of religious sites by the Russian military in the year 2023 compared to the previous year, with no indication of a decrease.

Russia also suppresses religious freedom in temporarily occupied areas, permitting only churches aligned with the Kremlin to operate. Ukrainian believers not affiliated with the Moscow Patriarchate face coercion from occupation authorities for mandatory re-registration, acceptance of Russian citizenship, and submission of community member lists. However, even compliance with these demands does not guarantee re-registration under Russian law. The ultimate aim of the occupation authorities in this regard is to coerce religious communities and leaders into collaboration with the Russian regime. Leaders and denominations perceived as disloyal are persecuted through unfounded accusations of espionage, sectarianism, extremism, or illegal missionary activities.

Moreover, the involvement of the Moscow Patriarchate, often referred to as the Russian Orthodox Church, in attempting to legitimize Russian aggression and erode Ukrainian sovereignty is unmistakable. The infusion of propaganda into sermons by its leader, Kirill Gundyayev, subsequent to Russia’s mobilization in September 2022, vividly illustrates his alignment with the Kremlin’s militaristic objectives. This rhetoric, which sanctions military sacrifice as a means of seeking absolution for sins, not only jeopardizes Ukrainian spiritual and cultural heritage but also prolongs the suffering of those living under Russia’s occupation.

The international community must stand in solidarity with Ukraine, addressing the multifaceted repercussions of Russian aggression and holding the Russian Federation accountable for flagrant violations of international law, including crimes against humanity and war crimes.

As we commemorate this somber anniversary, let us reaffirm our commitment to defending the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all individuals, regardless of faith or nationality, and tirelessly pursue justice and peace in Ukraine.