U.S. denounces systematic religious persecution in Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine

31 March, 11:14

Russia has subjected believers in the occupied territories of Ukraine to a campaign of terror. The invaders have destroyed or looted 650 Christian churches and killed at least 49 religious leaders in these areas.

According to OBOZ.UA, this was reported by Sarah Makin, who served as Donald Trump’s advisor on religious affairs during his first presidential term.

During his speech at CPAC, the largest conference for the conservative political movement in the U.S., he addressed the crimes committed by the Kremlin. The CPAC USA 2026 press service shared an excerpt of his comments on Twitter.

Throughout the year, Makin conducted an investigation into the situation in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. Together with her team, she produced a documentary focusing on the Russian Federation's crimes against religion.

“They have one church that they (the Russian Federation - ed.) allow, and the rest are not allowed. You can be arrested just for that. This has been going on in Russia for many years. What they've now done is 'exported' that to Ukraine, where they are occupying territory,” the expert stated.

Approximately 3 million Christians live in the occupied territories "under this threat."

“Russia has bombed, shelled, and looted 650 Christian churches. They have murdered, a conservative estimate is 49 pastors, priests, evangelical leaders, and other faith leaders in Russian-occupied Ukraine,” Makin reported.

“They have tortured these men before murdering them. And, again, we know this is not new; this is what Russia does. But now, they are doing it in Ukraine,” she concluded.

On her X page, Makin expressed gratitude for the chance to “share the truth about the hidden war Russia is waging against Christians” in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.

She emphasized that the Russians are actively engaging in propaganda, particularly aimed at influencing conservatives. “Powerful lobbyists and disinformation funded by Russia have infiltrated conservative circles, but we have witnessed their actions firsthand,” wrote the former U.S. presidential advisor.

“Evangelicals, Catholics, Orthodox Christians, Jews — no one is safe from Putin. We must stop the Russian war machine and combat their well-funded propaganda efforts,” she urged.