Why Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill supports Putin's war in Ukraine

Synopsis

Patriarch Kirill, the head of Russia's Orthodox Church, supports Putin's war in Ukraine, labeling opponents as forces of evil. This stance angers many Ukrainians, who accuse Kirill of endorsing violence against fellow Slavs and believers. The conflict has resulted in damage to 92 churches in Ukraine, highlighting the religious dimension of the war. Kirill has positioned himself as an ideological ally of the Kremlin, describing Putin's political project as a 'miracle of God' in 2012. In a March sermon, he condemned church members who oppose the war, asserting that peace cannot be made with those who violate divine law. Kirill's support grants a religious endorsement to the Kremlin's actions, with many victims of the violence being his own faithful. Ukraine hosts nearly 12,000 Russian Orthodox parishes, many now caught in the crossfire of the conflict, as the church's influence intertwines with the ongoing war.