Peculiarities of Interfaith Relations in Ukraine in the (Pre)war Period: On the Way to Dialogue

B a c k g r o u n d . The article examines religious conflicts in independent Ukraine, focusing on their roots, current dynamics and impact on society. Ukrainians' religiosity has always had a significant impact on their worldview and social behaviour, but in recent years it has become a platform for manipulation and political ambitions. Methods. By analysing religious conflicts, the authors seek to understand the mechanisms of interaction between different socio-cultural groups in a post-conflict society and to develop strategies for interreligious dialogue and peacemaking. It is revealed that before Russia's invasion, the level of fear of interethnic and interreligious conflicts among Ukrainians had significantly decreased, as evidenced by survey data. However, conflicts between believers of different churches still occurred, mainly due to political motives, the struggle for property and the church hierarchy's desire for power. The main conflict potential was the interaction between the UOC and the OCU, reflecting the deep crisis in Ukrainian Orthodoxy. The article presents data from sociological surveys on the causes of conflicts between believers of different religions in Ukraine. While the percentage of respondents who believe that conflicts are caused by hierarchical power seeking fluctuates, it has increased again in recent years (2023), although the number of respondents who believe that the national issue is the essence of conflicts is increasing, with a particularly marked increase after 2019. Respondents note that the role of the media in increasing religious intolerance is significant, but this indicator does not show a clear upward or downward trend. R e s u l t s . It is proved that the COVID-19 pandemic has also brought changes to interreligious dialogue, forcing religious communities to adapt to new conditions while maintaining spirituality and support for believers. The quarantine measures have contributed to the development of virtual communities and new forms of communication between believers of different religions. С o n c l u s I o n s . It is substantiated that after Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, interreligious dialogue in Ukraine has acquired new important aspects. Religious organizations united to support the Ukrainian people by providing humanitarian aid, moral support and psychological assistance to war-affected people. They actively condemned aggression and hate speech, contributing to the formation of an objective public opinion about the war.