The Kremlin has intensified its use of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) as a key propaganda instrument to legitimize Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine and to further militarize Russian society, analysts warn.
Russian state-controlled and pro-Kremlin media are increasingly broadcasting images of religious services attended by Russian soldiers, including troops deployed on the front lines. These reports are accompanied by statements from so-called “military priests,” who stress the need to remain close to soldiers “in the camps,” explicitly linking religious faith with warfare.
Religion and War Blended at the Highest Level
During Christmas services on January 7, Russian President Vladimir Putin appeared alongside senior state officials, including the Minister of Defense, as well as top figures from the Russian Orthodox Church hierarchy.
At these ceremonies, the war in Ukraine was framed as a “fight against evil” and a “defense of faith,” reinforcing a narrative that portrays military aggression as a moral and spiritual duty.
According to independent analyses, high-ranking clerics deliberately mask Russia’s aggression as a “spiritual mission.” Religious language invoking “holy peace,” the “Russian world,” and the “defense of Orthodoxy” is repeatedly used, while Ukraine is baselessly accused of “persecuting faith.”
Avoiding Accountability Through Sacred Rhetoric
Experts argue that this strategy allows the Kremlin to deflect political and legal responsibility for the war by shifting it into a pseudo-sacred dimension, where violence is presented as divinely justified rather than state-directed.
“This is a classic feature of Russian propaganda — the fusion of religion, military power, and state ideology to legitimize violence and mobilize the population,” analysts note.
A Stark Contrast With Global Traditions
While Christmas worldwide symbolizes peace, solidarity, and humanity, in Russia it is increasingly being weaponized to justify killing and sustain military aggression.
Previously, the Center published an analytical report documenting how the Russian Orthodox Church has been transformed into a militarized component of the Russian state’s propaganda system, playing a central role in normalizing war and repression.
