In a time when religious freedoms are being tested around the world, a new report has spotlighted Russia for some of the most severe violations—both within its borders and in territories it controls in Ukraine.
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) just released a scathing report that outlines systematic crackdowns on religious groups, especially in the context of the ongoing war in Ukraine.
The Scope of the Report: A Grim Picture
The report, dated June 30, reflects incidents that took place throughout 2024 and into early 2025.
It describes what USCIRF calls “intense persecution” against religious minorities—specifically Ukrainian Orthodox Christians, Catholics, Protestants, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and even human rights activists and anti-war protesters.
Vicky Hartzler, chair of USCIRF and a former U.S. congresswoman, didn’t mince words.
She stated plainly: “There is no religious freedom in Russia or in the territories it occupies.”
Minority Faiths Under Pressure in Russia
Inside Russia, the crackdown isn’t just limited to Ukraine-related groups.
Minority religions like Jehovah’s Witnesses, Falun Gong, and even the Church of Scientology are routinely targeted.
Russian authorities reportedly exploit vaguely written laws to accuse them of extremism, terrorism, or illegal missionary work.
In 2024 alone, Russian courts processed 431 cases under so-called “illegal missionary activity” laws, issuing nearly $60,000 in fines.
One particularly alarming case involved the deportation of an 85-year-old Polish Catholic priest who had been preaching in Russia for almost three decades.
Religious Persecution Amplified by War
Religious oppression in Ukraine’s occupied territories is even more disturbing.
The report says at least 47 religious leaders have been killed since Russia invaded in February 2022.
Over 600 churches and sacred sites have been either damaged or destroyed.
Entire denominations have been outlawed by Russian-installed authorities—among them the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Baptists, Pentecostals, and Seventh-day Adventists.
According to the report, Russia has pressured many Ukrainian Orthodox communities to submit to the Moscow Patriarchate—essentially trying to fold them into the state-controlled Russian Orthodox Church.
Stories of Brutality: Abduction, Torture, and Church Demolitions
There are harrowing stories in the report, including one that alleges Russian forces kidnapped and tortured Orthodox priest Stepan Podolchak to death.
It also says that the last remaining Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Crimea was demolished by Russian authorities in July 2024.
A separate United Nations report cited by USCIRF describes the brutal detention of two Ukrainian Greek Catholic priests, Ivan Levitsky and Bohdan Geleta.
One of them claimed he was subjected to repeated beatings, forced stress positions, and humiliating punishment like crawling long distances on asphalt.
Speaking Out Against War Is a Risky Act of Faith
The report also highlights cases where religious figures inside Russia were punished simply for speaking out against the war.
Pastor Nikolay Romanyuk, a Pentecostal minister, was reportedly assaulted and arrested after delivering an anti-war sermon.
Similarly, Archbishop Grigory Mikhnov-Vaitenko of the Apostolic Orthodox Church was fined for posting a video criticizing the war using biblical references.
Christians in Russia also face barriers if they try to perform alternative civilian service due to religious objections to joining the military.
Muslim Communities Face Harshest Penalties
Russia’s Muslim communities, especially Crimean Tatars, are another major target.
According to the report, hundreds have been charged with terrorism under flimsy or nonexistent evidence, particularly for alleged ties to the banned Hizb ut-Tahrir group.
Of 280 people convicted, many received sentences of 10 years or more—some as long as 15 years.
A Widening Net: Other Spiritual Groups Targeted
Russia has also cracked down on a range of lesser-known spiritual groups.
Members of the Allya Ayat movement and Falun Gong practitioners have faced harassment and arrest.
Even the Church of Scientology has been labeled “extremist,” with its members subject to prosecution.
A Systemic Assault on Freedom of Belief
Ultimately, the report paints a troubling picture of religious freedom in modern-day Russia.
It goes far beyond isolated incidents—it suggests a deliberate, state-driven effort to control belief, punish dissent, and impose ideological conformity under the guise of national security and religious orthodoxy.
The international community, especially the United States, is watching closely.
But for those facing fines, prison, or even torture, the fight for freedom of faith continues day by day, often in silence.
