Russian religious policy as an instrument of hybrid warfare: results of the conference in Kyiv
On March 14, 2025, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv hosted an International Scientific and Practical Conference dedicated to analyzing the religious policy of the Russian Federation as a tool of hybrid warfare.
Source: IRS
The event gathered Ukrainian scholars, experts, human rights activists, representatives of religious organizations, media, and government bodies, as well as guests from the USA, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, France, and Belgium.
The conference was organized by the Research Institute of Ukrainian Studies at Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine, the Secretariat of the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, the State Service for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience, and the Department of Religious Studies of the H.S. Skovoroda Institute of Philosophy of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.
Thematic Sessions of the Conference Participants addressed key aspects of Russia’s religious policy across four primary directions:
- Legal challenges and strategies for counteraction – discussing effective ways to combat Russia’s utilization of religion to advance its interests within hybrid warfare.
- Activities of the Russian Orthodox Church abroad – analyzing the role of church networks and propaganda centers involved in destructive activities.
- The destructive activities of the Russian Orthodox Church and its satellites in Ukraine – examining instances of religious policy impacting internal security and stability.
- Non-Orthodox confessions in Russia – investigating the motives and consequences of organizations operating under the “Russian world” doctrine.
Resolution and Further Steps Following discussions, a draft resolution was approved, currently undergoing refinement based on participants’ feedback. This resolution is expected to become a critical document outlining legal and practical mechanisms to counteract the exploitation of religion as a means of Russian aggression against Ukraine.
The conference provided a platform for an in-depth analysis of contemporary challenges in religious policy and fostered cooperation between state institutions and religious organizations. The organizers hope the resolution will contribute to developing an effective strategy to protect human rights and freedom of conscience amid hybrid warfare conditions.
