How Novynskyi channels Russian propaganda through Carlson show to exploit American Christianity

Together, these two painted a frightening picture for supporters of conservative ideas, claiming that Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s government has allegedly "started a campaign of persecution and oppression of Christians."

It went as far as the propagandist and the Russian agent suggesting that Speaker of the House Mike Johnson supposedly sponsors the fight against “true Christians” in Ukraine using American taxpayers’ money. According to them, that’s where the U.S. aid to the Ukrainian Armed Forces and social programs is actually going.

Why should this be noticed? Donald Trump has already reached peak “teflon” status. Increasingly, Republican voters are asking why their leader is so soft and gentle with Putin. Where is the decisiveness of Ronald Reagan, which the new leader tried to emulate in all his campaigns? 

New decisions by Trump and his team regarding Russia and Putin will personally depend on domestic politics and voter moods. Therefore, the Ukrainian official authorities must react instantly whenever any Russian agent interferes in the heart of the American electorate, which has influence on current White House policy: 

Novynskyi accused official Kyiv of allegedly opening “fabricated cases” against some archierei.

It is easy to google that most of these cases were initiated by Ukraine’s Security Service for spying for Russia or participating in the occupation. Each news piece is worse than the previous one — priests from the Moscow Patriarchate Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC MP) have been detained for being GRU agents preparing attacks on Ukrainian forces' supply trains near Kharkiv, and groups of clerics have openly praised Putin’s actions during sermons.

Novynskyi told Carlson about the deputy abbot of Sviatohirsk Lavra, Metropolitan Arsenii, whom Ukrainian law enforcement accuse of unauthorized dissemination of information about Ukrainian troops' deployments, and about the head of the Cherkasy Diocese of the UOC MP, Metropolitan Feodosii, accused of treason. These are evidently valuable assets for the FSB agent network in clerical robes since Novynskyi spared no time or resources to save them from criminal charges.

He also used airtime to describe how the “evil” Zelenskyy will persecute him with sanctions and repression over Christian beliefs.

Naturally, after this, a redneck from Alabama should wipe away a tear and complain to his congressman about the terrible persecutions in Ukraine. Too bad they don’t know the last thirty years of history, how the Russian Orthodox Church became a hub for preparing full-scale war in Ukraine. And how Russia sent Novynskyi in 2012 to a single-member district in Sevastopol to have their reliable man in Ukrainian politics and business.

Vadym Novynskyi stated on Tucker Carlson’s show that “the biggest obstacle to peace is Zelenskyy himself.” He claimed that Ukraine should have signed the Istanbul Agreement — and peace would have prevailed, and everything would be fine. This is a purely Russian narrative following a new round of negotiations — essentially Ukraine’s capitulation. Of course, for Novynskyi, who is actually a Russified Armenian Malhasian from Saint Petersburg, such an option would be very comfortable. After Crimea’s occupation, Novynskyi and his brother Ashot Malhasian’s companies began developing the peninsula. There is open information on how the family got a contract to build the controversial Crimean Bridge.

What to do about such “doves of peace”?

Novynskyi’s main task, and that of his ilk, is to shape American opinion, specifically Republican supporters, against Ukraine. It is worth noting that Novynskyi thanked current U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance for raising the issue of “persecution of Christians in Ukraine” while still a congressman. This is a nod to the arrogant politician who knows about Ukraine only from social media stories and loves warm baths. 

The second task — to push for protecting the interests of the Russian Orthodox Church in Ukraine. Ideally, American conservatives themselves would pressure Keith Kellogg, Vance, and Trump to protect the Kremlin church’s interests in Ukraine in any peace deal.

Thirdly, Novynskyi openly promotes the Istanbul capitulation, disinforming the West that it was really an attempt to finish off Ukraine when hardly anyone was helping it with money and weapons.

What to do about Novynskyi specifically?

Recently Zelenskyy hinted at an episode when the bearded man offered him to surrender during the first days of the full-scale war.

It is time not only to impose sanctions on Novynskyi but also to push harder with criminal cases.

Next — similar “doves” of the Russian Orthodox Church in Ukraine are a sign that it is high time to implement legislation that has long been gathering dust, and which could finally close the loophole through which Russia always exerted significant influence in Ukraine. The Moscow Church is black mold that eats away our supporting walls from within.

Most importantly, every move by defenders of the Russian Orthodox Church in the U.S. against Ukraine should be met with a clear response. Ukrainian clergy and religious experts should appear on conservative podcasts and interviews, presenting facts and explaining that the Russian Orthodox Church acts as an FSB agent network, using Christianity as a cover.

It would be helpful to publish stories and surveys in American media from cities like Kharkiv or Kherson, where locals can explain how the only real threat they face is from Russian drones — not where they take their Easter baskets once a year.

It is also worth reminding that we are not using the resource of the most valuable person in Trump’s team who works on religion — charismatic Christian preacher Paula White.

This woman, since Trump’s second term, has headed the newly created Office of Faith-Based Partnerships, which, among other tasks, promotes religious freedom both nationally and internationally. During Trump’s first term, Paula White also worked on religious issues but on a much smaller scale.

The beautiful blonde has known the Trump family since 2001. She is a star of Christian television, and her sermons filled stadiums and concert venues.

It is obvious that Trump somehow listened to how Paula White worked with audiences, was inspired by her prosperity gospel teaching that material success is a sign of God’s blessing, and decided this faith suited him. If you watch the pastor’s speeches closely, Donald copied her manner of speaking and gestures.

Trust in White was so high that during Trump’s first term, she was chair of the Evangelical Advisory Board for Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign and became the first female clergy member to deliver the invocation prayer at the inauguration on January 20, 2017.

The pastor supported Trump in the 2020 election campaign, delivering a prayer at the event launching his campaign. Likewise, during the 2024 presidential campaign, she actively worked with the future president’s team. Hence, such high numbers among self-identified Christian voters.

Paula White is known for her strong support of Israel and even ranked among the "50 Best Christian Allies of Israel." For Ukrainians, an important fact is that since the invasion began, the pastor organized charitable aid for Ukrainian refugees in European countries and regularly reported on it on her website. So reaching out to Paula White is task number one for those who consider themselves knowledgeable about the American track.

Exclusively for Espreso

About the author: Marina Danilyuk-Yarmolayeva, journalist

The editorial team does not always share the opinions expressed by blog authors.