Discourses on War and Peace

The Role of Orthodoxy in the Russian War of Aggression on Ukraine

Abstract

It seems undisputed that religion plays a special role in Russia's war against Ukraine, and yet there is uncertainty about how to capture this role analytically. One reason is the multidimensional interweaving of religious arguments in the ideology of war and a limited perception of the interests of church actors in Russia and Ukraine. The Russian Orthodox Church openly supports the military and repressive actions of the Russian leadership and yet is accepted as a potential partner for mediating initiatives, while the Ukrainian churches are fighting for existence with their state and yet have hardly any voice of their own in peace negotiations. In the following, historical and ideological backgrounds on the role of Orthodoxy in Russia's war of aggression will be summarised in order to provide an overview of church strategies and possible intervention measures.