“The Russian Federation and the ROC destroy religious freedom in the occupied territories of Ukraine – the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the ROC systematically violate the international humanitarian right in the occupied territories of Ukraine. There is a violent subordination of religious communities and repression against the clergy of different denominations.”, – WRITE ON: Unn.ua
On the eve of a prayer breakfast in the United States, which is an important platform for discussion of human rights, religious freedom and inter -religious dialogue, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine once again draws the attention of the world community to serious violations of the rights to freedom of religion and religious activities in the territories of Ukraine. The Russian Federation and the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) with the Kremlin systematically violate the international humanitarian right in the temporarily occupied territories (Tot) of Ukraine. Under their patronage in these territories there is a violent subordination of religious communities, repression against religious figures and believers, the destruction of independent religious structures and the promotion of ideas of the “Russian measure”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed that the Russian Federation and the ROC pursue a policy of extermination of religious diversity on the territories uncontrolled by the Government of Ukraine. The clergy and believers of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (PCU), Protestant, Catholic and Muslim communities have been repressed. In Crimea, all the communities of the PCU were eliminated, their temples are captured. The priests of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), who do not support the occupation power, are also persecuted. Criminal cases are opened against them, searches are carried out, they are intimidated.
“Crimean Muslims – Representatives of the Crimean Tatars are persecuted through their religious and national identity. The joint prayer of Muslims in Crimea is for the occupier a reason for repression. turn into administrative or “cultural” institutions.
The other day, the Russian invaders in the Kherson region will be tortured until the death of the priest of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine Father Stepan Podolchak. He was killed for refusing to go under the “jurisdiction” of the Moscow Church, which blesses Russian soldiers for murder in Ukraine.
Since 2014, the UN Human Rights Mission in Ukraine (MMPLU) has regularly documented the facts of the influence of illegal actions of occupation power in the Crimea on believers and the clergy of different religious communities. The 40th periodic report of the MMPL lists the facts of demolition in June 2024 by the occupying authorities of the last CCCU in Crimea on the basis of the decision of the so-called “Evpatoria City Court”, adopted in 2019.
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The 41st mission report has documented cases of torture and ill-treatment of Greek Catholic priests, who since November 2022 have been imprisoned Russian occupation power in prisons in the occupied territory of Donetsk region. In December 2024, the MMPL noted that representatives of different religious communities continue to undergo criminal prosecution and adoption by the occupying courts of strict sentences of imprisonment in cases related to their religious activities.
The European Court of Human Rights acknowledged that the Russian Federation systematically violates freedom of religion, pursues religious minorities, and confiscated religious objects. The European Parliament in the 2024/2988 (RSP) resolution condemned the use of Orthodox religion as a tool for political influence of the Russian Federation. The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in resolution 2567 (2024) condemned the actions of the Russian Federation and its propaganda campaign aimed at justifying military aggression.
UN General Assembly in resolution 79/184 “A human rights situation in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, including the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol” condemned the violation of the occupying power On the tooth of Ukraine.
The ROC is an active participant in the implementation of the Kremlin’s aggressive policy. Its functionaries conduct ideological work on the destruction of Ukrainian national identity. In schools in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine introduced the course “Spiritual and moral foundations of the culture of Russia”, compulsory meetings of priests of the ROC with the youth are held, during which Russian identity and disregard for Ukrainian culture are imposed.
In the temporarily occupied territory of Zaporizhzhya region, the priests of the ROC spread literature that promotes service in the army of the Russian Federation, justifies the occupation and denies the existence of the Ukrainian nation. In occupied Melitopol, children’s paramilitary organizations were created with the participation of representatives of the ROC.
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The ROC captures Ukrainian temples. From the beginning of the full -scale invasion of the Russian Federation in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, the ROC 8 of the UOC dioceses, which have more than 1600 parishes and 23 monasteries, have been forcibly included. The enthusiastic cathedral of the Holy Prince Vladimir and Princess Olga of the PCCU in Simferopol, dismantled by the last temple of the PCU in the Crimea – the Cross Cross Church.
The ROC supports Russian aggression, blesses the military, provides humanitarian assistance to the Russian Army. The priests of this church participate in mobilization events, actively promote participation in the war, organize funds for the needs of the occupying troops.
According to the Ukrainian special services, more than 1,300 priests of the ROC are sent to the front, where they act as chaplains or representatives of Russian special services. The SBU exposed the facts of the supply of shock drones to Russian troops through the Crimean Metropolitanate of the ROC.
Russia continues to use religion as a tool for political propaganda and control over people who live in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, “the comment reads.
Ukraine once again urges the international community to strengthen sanctions against religious structures that support the war and continue pressure on the Russian Federation to stop the persecution of religious communities in the occupied territories, summarized the Foreign Ministry.