Intelligence sources have confirmed that Ukrainians seeking spiritual support need only attend services two or three times before they are likely to be noticed.
Ringo Ringvee, Advisor to the Religious Affairs Department of the Estonian Ministry of the Interior, and a source from the Ukrainian Foreign Intelligence Service shared important insights with LIGA.net.
A LIGA.net correspondent in Brussels visited the Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, part of the Russian Orthodox Church’s archdiocese. While waiting in line for confession, the correspondent noticed a bald man in black who stood out among the congregation. He appeared businesslike and overly confident, with a cold, scanning gaze. This man was not praying; instead, he was observing each newcomer intently. The correspondent likened him to a "watcher," whose role seemed to be to record everyone who entered the church.
According to Ringvee, this behavior forms part of a strategy to create a database for future recruitment while establishing a "positive environment." "The message is always the same: you’ve come to a new country, and we’re here to help you," he explained. However, Ringvee pointed out that Estonia has not seen any credible evidence or figures confirming this assistance from the Moscow Patriarchate over the years.
A representative from the Foreign Intelligence Service later confirmed to LIGA.net that this is how the control system operates within Russian Orthodox churches. Ukrainians seeking spiritual support are likely to be noticed after attending services just two or three times. A priest or nun may approach them under the guise of offering assistance for those fleeing the war, aiming to gather their contact information or social media accounts for informational purposes.
For more details on recruitment methods and how to avoid potential influence from Russian intelligence networks, refer to the LIGA.net report titled “Bankrolling the Enemy: How Europe Funds Russia’s Recruitment of Ukrainian Refugees.”