IRFBA - The Article 18 Alliance Chair Statement on the Fourth Anniversary of the Full-Scale Russian Invasion of Ukraine

As we mark the somber and tragic fourth anniversary of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, we must confront a harrowing reality: the systematic erosion of religious freedom and the deliberate destruction of spiritual heritage. Since the inception of the Russian Federation’s armed aggression, religious communities across the denominational spectrum have been subjected to relentless persecution. From Evangelical Baptists and Pentecostals to Seventh-day Adventists, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and members of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, and Muslim and Jewish communities, none have been spared.

The cost of this aggression is measured in lives and sanctified stone:

At least 80 ministers of various faiths have been killed by deliberate targeting or indiscriminate bombardment. More than 200 others have endured abduction, torture, and unlawful detention.

Over 800 religious buildings have been documented as damaged, with approximately 100 reduced to rubble. While more than half are Orthodox, the destruction spans Protestant houses of prayer, Jewish synagogues, Catholic cathedrals, Muslim mosques, and Hare Krishna centers.

Over 130 sites are now functionally defunct. We have seen the destruction of the XIX century St. George’s Church in Zavorychi and the Church of the Nativity in Vyazivka. More recently, the strikes on the Transfiguration Cathedral in Odesa, the Lutheran Church in Zmiivka (2024), and the XI century Saint Sophia Cathedral (2025) represent an assault on the very soul of European history. Most recently, on January 24, 2026, shelling struck the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra — a UNESCO World Heritage site under Enhanced Protection.

The occupying forces have not only destroyed religious sites but also desecrated them through militarization. We have documented cases, such as the XVIII century Church of St. John the Theological in Kurylivka, being used as ammunition depots.

Furthermore, we must condemn the role of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) in providing a theological veneer for this violence. By framing this war as a “sacred struggle” or a “metaphysical battle,” the ROC leadership has moved beyond spiritual guidance into active complicity — consecrating weapons of mass destruction, funding military hardware, and overseeing the paramilitary indoctrination of Ukrainian children in occupied territories.

In stark contrast, Ukraine remains a steadfast guardian of Freedom of Religion or Belief. As an original member of IRFBA - the Article 18 Alliance, Ukraine has enshrined interfaith dialogue into its national fabric. In 2025, Ukraine made history as the second nation globally to legislatively establish a National Day of Prayer, uniting the state and the spirit in a common call for peace. It was my profound honor to attend the Second National Prayer Breakfast at the invitation of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, witnessing firsthand the resilience of a nation that views religious diversity not as a fault line, but as a foundation.

I will never forget my visit to the site of the massacre in Bucha. Standing in a place marked by unimaginable suffering and human loss reinforced for me that this war is not only a geopolitical conflict but a profound moral tragedy. The memory of the victims compels us to speak with clarity and conviction: every human being possesses inherent dignity, and every community has the right to live, worship, and believe without terror.

I emphasize today that the deliberate destruction of religious sites, the use of houses of worship for military gain, and the persecution of clergy and faithful constitute grave violations of international humanitarian law. The people of Ukraine must have the right to practice their religion freely and openly, without fear of violence, coercion, or war. Freedom of religion or belief cannot exist where missiles fall on churches, synagogues, mosques, and temples, or where faith itself becomes a target.

As Chair of IRFBA – the Article 18 Alliance, I renew my appeal to the international community: we must ensure the protection of Ukrainian believers and their unique spiritual heritage from these barbaric encroachments. We must act with urgency and vigor to restore a lasting, just peace and to ensure that religious freedom is once again a lived reality throughout every inch of sovereign Ukrainian territory.

Ambassador at Large Robert Rehak