Berkley Center

The war between Russia and Ukraine is not religious in origin, but religion figures prominently in several of its domestic and international dimensions, including identity formation, social cohesion, and international advocacy. For policymakers, understanding these dynamics is essential to assessing risks of social fragmentation, evaluating claims made in international forums, and anticipating how religious issues may surface in future diplomatic and negotiation processes. This working paper by Denys Brylov and Tetiana Kalenychenko with Peter Mandaville summarizes these dynamics and key religious actors, both inside and outside Ukraine.

This working paper was written as part of the Geopolitics of Religious Soft Power project, a research initiative of Georgetown University’s Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs. The statements made and views expressed are solely the responsibility of the respective author(s).