The Weaponisation of the Russian Orthodox Church as a Tool in Russia’s Hybrid Arsenal: Implications for Ukraine

Article
Open Access
by Christodoulos Ioannou1
1 University of South Wales (Pontypridd, United Kingdom)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.29202/up/17/3
Received: 10 September 2025 / Accepted: 1 December 2025 / Published: 30 December 2025

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Abstract

This article examines the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) as a strategic instrument within Russia’s hybrid warfare toolkit, analyzing its historical evolution, ideological functions, and operational role in contemporary conflicts, particularly the war against Ukraine. Drawing on hybrid warfare theory and historical evidence of state–church symbiosis, the study demonstrates how the ROC has been systematically instrumentalized to advance Russian political, security, and foreign policy objectives. The analysis traces the ROC’s long-standing entanglement with Russian intelligence and security services, its contribution to the construction of the Russkiy Mir doctrine, and its role in legitimizing military aggression through religious narratives, including the recent framing of the invasion of Ukraine as a «holy war.» The article further documents the ROC’s involvement in influence operations, softpower projection, and covert activities across Europe, as well as its operational support to Russian forces in occupied Ukrainian territories. By conceptualizing the ROC as a hybrid threat actor, the study highlights the challenges this poses for democratic states, where religious freedom norms complicate countermeasures. Understanding the weaponization of the ROC is essential for assessing the broader architecture of Russia’s hybrid strategy and for strengthening societal resilience against religiously framed influence operations.

Keywords: Russian Orthodox Church, hybrid warfare, hybrid threats, spiritual security, Russian intelligence services, influence operations, Ukraine, religious instrumentalization, soft power

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Ioannou, Christodoulos (2025) The Weaponisation of the Russian Orthodox Church as a Tool in Russia’s Hybrid Arsenal: Implications for Ukraine. Ukrainian Policymaker, Volume 17, 46-56. https://doi.org/10.29202/up/17/3
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