The Kremlin actively promotes new church representatives to strengthen influence over Ukraine: UKRU uncover details
Russia is once again employing religious factors to achieve its strategic goals in Ukraine. According to the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, the Kremlin has appointed several new "church curators" within the Russian Orthodox Church, tasked with using religious missions to spread the ideology of the "Russian world." This is yet another attempt by Moscow to expand its influence in our country through manipulation of spiritual and religious institutions. According to Ukrainian intelligence, the list of new leaders includes high-ranking officials who will be responsible for establishing and actively cooperating with pro-Russian structures in Ukraine. Among them is Metropolitan Antoniy (real name Anton Sevruk), who heads the Department of External Church Relations of the Russian Orthodox Church and maintains direct contact with representatives of international religious circles. Ukrainian law enforcement agencies report that he will be responsible for promoting Kremlin interests through church diplomacy, leveraging his diplomatic connections to build links with pro-Russian clergy and religious organizations abroad. Additionally, among the designated "curators" is Metropolitan Dionisius (Petr Porubay), who serves as the Metropolitan of Omsk and Tavrida. His role involves actively propagating the ideology of the "Russian world" among believers and religious communities with pro-Russian tendencies, as well as facilitating the dissemination of relevant messages within church circles influencing public opinion. Another figure on this list is Metropolitan Pavel (Giorgi Ponomaryov), the Patriarchal Vicar of the Moscow Metropolitanate in the "near abroad" countries. His mission is to coordinate and oversee the activities of the Russian Orthodox Church in western territories, as well as to establish contacts and promote Kremlin interests among Orthodox diaspora communities. The list also includes Metropolitan Varchonofiy (Anatoliy Sudakov), who leads the Saint Petersburg Metropolis. He is known for his close ties with Russian security agencies and has experience participating in information propaganda operations aimed at shaping pro-Russian narratives in both domestic and international information spaces. Intelligence sources emphasize that the primary task of these "church figures" is to organize and coordinate contacts with religious organizations within Russia and with pro-Russian elements in Ukraine. They are expected to carry out orders from Russian intelligence services, relay information, and facilitate provocations to achieve the Kremlin’s geopolitical objectives. Part of this strategy involves strengthening pro-Russian influence networks, shaping public opinion, and employing spiritual structures to prepare and execute destabilization scenarios. This information emerged following a tense situation on April 22, when Ukraine’s Security Service and Prosecutor General’s Office announced suspicions against 14 high-ranking bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church. Among them are individuals who have assisted Moscow in attempts to undermine Ukraine’s territorial integrity, spreading pro-Russian propaganda and supporting destabilization actions. These measures indicate a systematic policy by Russia to manipulate the religious sphere for its geopolitical purposes, using church hierarchy to promote the "Russian world" doctrine and consolidate influence within Ukraine’s informational landscape. Such strategies raise serious concerns among Ukrainian authorities and the public, as they threaten national security and the stability of the state.