Churches battle for influence

NEAR bloody battles between Ukrain- ian and Russian forces in east Ukraine, a very different kind of conflict is tak- ing place: a battle for believers’ souls.

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Two rival Orthodox churches - one set up with Ukrainian government backing in 2018 and the other an older church tied to Moscow - compete for followers in Kramatorsk, some 20km from the front line.

Kyiv has sought to ban the Moscow-linked Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), arguing Russia has used it to spread influence, and accusing many ofits priests of being Russian agents.

Most Ukrainians have switched to the newly created Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU). But some in the east - typically older, Russian-speaking parishioners — are hesitant.

In a narrow wooden chapel made partly of chipboard, Archpriest Oleksandr Tkachuk of the Kyiv-backed OCU gave an impassioned homily to his congregation, just a handful of people.

“Beware of false churches, false prophets,” he told them.

Built in 2019, his church has fewer followers and has struggled to expand its flock.

Tkachuk is convinced his rival, the UOG, is an arm of Russia.

“Its just the FSB (Russian intelligence agency) under the guise of the church,” he said, packing up his altar.

Russia’s 2022 invasion prompted many Ukrainians to cut ties with anything associated with Moscow.