Russia’s war on faith in Ukraine has a name and a face in Slovyansk: Oleksandr Pavenko. He buried two sons, both pastors, after Kremlin-backed separatists abducted and killed them in 2014. He later lost a third son to a Russian rocket in 2023. Yet he stayed near the front lines, and he turned Transfiguration Church into a relief hub. The ministry offered food, clean water, English lessons, and donated essentials, because neighbors kept arriving in need.
A Guided Bomb Hits, Worship Continues
On April 25, a Russian guided bomb ripped through Transfiguration’s windows and battered the roof. Pavenko’s congregation boarded up openings and patched what they could. Damage marked the sanctuary inside and out, but Sunday still came. The next day, 170 people walked in for worship, so the church kept its rhythm under fire.
Strikes Spread Across Sacred Sites
Other congregations report similar blows in a widening assault on religious freedom. On April 16, a Russian missile hit a church in Zaporizhzhia, killing one person and injuring two. In March, a drone damaged St. Andrew’s Church in Lviv, a 17th-century UNESCO-listed site. In September, two Shahed drones narrowly missed Spasinnya Evangelical Church near Kyiv during a pastor’s conference. Shrapnel tore into buildings and vehicles, and the lack of nearby military targets raised suspicion.
US Lawmakers Target Persecutors
US lawmakers now frame these attacks as a religious freedom crackdown tied to Moscow’s strategy. The “Countering Russia’s War on Faith Act” would force reports on violations and trigger sanctions. Sponsors also accuse Patriarch Kirill of blessing the invasion with theological claims. The proposal cites over 600 damaged churches and more than 50 slain religious leaders, while other tallies run higher.
Supporters and Detractors Weigh the Stakes
Pastor Mykhailo Brytsyn says Russian forces in occupied Melitopol shuttered non-aligned churches and expelled clergy. He now pastors online across 16 countries and documents abuses with partners. Supporters of the bill say sanctions can deter attacks on churches and defend plural worship. Detractors warn sanctions may harden Moscow’s stance and complicate diplomacy, but Ukrainians on the ground still choose worship, aid, and endurance.
As Russia Strikes Ukrainian Churches, Worship Goes On
Photo by Artur Zhadan on Unsplash
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