Recognizing and Responding to Religious Support for Illegal War: The Russian Orthodox Church’s Role in Russia’s Aggression Against Ukraine

In early 2024, Patriarch Kirill, leader of the Russian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (ROC), placed his proverbial cards on the table by declaring Russia’s aggression against Ukraine nothing less than a “holy war.” Although much evidence had already accumulated against the Patriarch for his steadfast commitment to President Putin’s illegal war, until this point very few of Ukraine’s partners had taken any meaningful measures against Kirill or his church in response. This unabashed and full-throated declaration, however, must serve as a wakeup call; action against the ROC’s wholesale endorsement of Kremlin misadventure—including the church’s involvement in the deportation and forcible transfer of Ukrainian children and public incitement to hatred and genocide—can no longer be merely an afterthought. To confront this reality, the article unpacks and explains away the faulty rationales used to preempt the imposition of sanctions on certain ROC institutions and officials. Following this assessment, the article closes by sketching out what a more unified and coherent sanctions regime might look like, and how it can serve as part of a larger concerted effort directed at securing accountability for ROC actions, including its ongoing efforts to consolidate and normalize Russian control over annexed and occupied Ukrainian territory.