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Every Russian Orthodox Priest Abroad Is Linked to Russian Intelligence, Former HUR Official Says
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A former senior official of Ukraine’s military intelligence agency has claimed that every Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) priest serving abroad is either recruited by or affiliated with Russian intelligence services, describing the church as part of Moscow’s broader influence network in Europe.
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Speaking at the “Russian Orthodox Church in Europe: Infrastructure of Russian Influence” forum, former Deputy Chief of Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence (HUR) Major General Illia Pavlenko said the ROC is used by multiple Russian intelligence agencies for espionage and information operations, according to RBC-Ukraine on July 18.
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According to RBC-Ukraine, the event was organized by the Institute for National Resilience and Security and featured the presentation of research examining the activities of the Russian Orthodox Church across Europe.
Pavlenko argued that the ROC operates in the interests of the Russian state and is utilized by the country’s intelligence services, including the Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), the Main Directorate of the General Staff (GRU), and the Federal Security Service (FSB).
“The ROC is a structure that acts in the interests of the aggressor state and is used by all Russian intelligence services: the SVR, the military GRU, and the FSB. Any ROC priest who goes abroad is either recruited or holds ranks within the Russian special services,” Pavlenko said.
According to RBC-Ukraine, Pavlenko said the church’s activities in European countries primarily focus on intelligence gathering and promoting narratives favorable to the Kremlin, including among Ukrainian refugees. He also argued that Russia inherited Soviet-era influence networks that have been built over decades.
“The greatest threat lies in the scale of this influence. People often do not even realize they are under the influence of the ROC or affiliated structures that are effectively connected to Russian intelligence services,” he said.
The forum also featured remarks from Father Kostiantyn Kholodov, head of HUR’s Military Chaplaincy Service, who said Ukraine should strengthen its institutional presence in countries hosting large Ukrainian communities.
“We must strengthen our own church, cultural, educational, informational, and security infrastructure abroad so that millions of Ukrainians continue to identify themselves with Ukraine and do not submit to harmful influence from Moscow,” Kholodov said.
The Russian Orthodox Church has faced increased scrutiny in several European countries since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Western governments and security agencies have repeatedly warned about Russian influence operations targeting diaspora communities, while Ukrainian officials have argued that religious institutions affiliated with Moscow can serve as channels for political influence and intelligence activities.
Earlier, reports emerged that representatives of Russian Orthodox organizations with ties to Moscow met with US officials in Washington, while lawmakers raised concerns that the Russian Orthodox Church has served as an ideological and influence tool supporting Russia’s war against Ukraine.
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