Russia uses religion to justify occupation

The Russian authorities are using religion as a tool of ideological influence on youth in temporarily occupied areas of Ukraine, the National Resistance Center (NRC) reports.

In the occupied Zaporizhzhia region, in Melitopol, students at the local College of Transport were taken to an educational session that promoted narratives about “Russian religious traditions” and the supposed special role of religion in Russia’s history.

“Under the guise of discussions about interfaith dialogue and ‘spiritual and moral values,’ young people were exposed to narratives emphasizing religion’s role in Russia’s history and the need to follow the legal norms of the occupation regime,” NRC writes.

Special attention was given to the alleged “harmful influence from outside,” framing any alternative view on religion as an external threat.

“These events are held in educational institutions with the involvement of Kremlin-controlled youth organizations, using religion as a tool to foster loyalty to the occupation authorities and as a means to suppress Ukrainian identity,” NRC adds.

Under the pretense of promoting “spiritual values,” the occupation authorities are forcibly shaping a religious and ideological identity to serve their interests, while schools and colleges become hubs for Russian Orthodox Church propaganda.