This policy brief explores the role of the Orthodox Church in the geopolitical and cultural dynamics surrounding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The document analyzes how Russia has leveraged religious institutions to justify its aggressive policies, aiming to impose cultural dominance and expand its ideological influence through the concept of pax Russica.
The study details how the Moscow Patriarchate has been instrumentalized as a political tool, reinforcing Kremlin propaganda and opposing Ukraine’s efforts toward religious independence. It highlights Ukraine’s struggle to establish its own autocephalous Orthodox Church, breaking free from Russian ecclesiastical control, and the geopolitical implications of this religious shift.
Furthermore, the brief discusses the broader effects of the war, emphasizing how cultural and religious identities have become battlegrounds in Russia’s attempt to subjugate Ukraine. The report underscores the complex intersection of politics, religion, and national identity, outlining how Ukraine’s spiritual resilience plays a crucial role in resisting Russian imperial ambitions.
This document provides an insightful perspective for policymakers, analysts, and scholars examining the intersection of religion and geopolitics in Eastern Europe.

Cătălin Gabrie Done-Policy Brief 2022