Russian propaganda launches new narrative of fighting ‘Satanism’ in Ukraine

This was reported by the Center for Countering Disinformation.

Matvienko commented on the eviction of the Moscow Patriarchate from the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. The agreement on the free use of the Lavra's buildings was terminated with the pro-Russian priests.

"The entire Orthodox world needs to fight this heresy, this satanism that is happening in Ukraine," said Valentina Matvienko.

The Kremlin's propagandists have also become more active.

"The hostile media claim that the Ukrainian authorities are oppressing canonical Orthodoxy, thus trying to incite people to a "holy war" on religious grounds. In fact, the return of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra to Ukrainian control is an important step towards cleansing the state of Russian agents and propagandists," the Center for Countering Disinformation wrote.

• Earlier, on March 10, it became known that the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra was terminating its building lease agreement with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Moscow Patriarchate and demanding to vacate the premises.

• On March 28, the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (Kyiv Patriarchate) created the Pochayiv Holy Dormition Lavra organization and invited the monks of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra to join it.