1138. The Moscow 'Spy Church' in Ukraine - A Network of Influence, Coercion and Occupation?!

Liubov Velychko is a Ukrainian investigative journalist based in Kyiv. Her reported areas include corruption, Russian disinformation, Russian intelligence-service influence operations, sanctions circumvention, energy politics, environmental crime and money laundering. She published in major Ukrainian outlets including LIGA.net, Mind.ua, Slovo i Dilo, and as a member of OCCRP and N-vestigate. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion, she has focused heavily on Russia’s information and influence infrastructure: FSB “temnyki” or talking-point systems, sanctions evasion, Russian lobbying in international institutions, and toxicity of Russian energy-sector influence. She also examines the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP) not simply as a religious body, but as an influence network: financially dependent, hierarchically disciplined, culturally embedded and vulnerable to Moscow’s coercive leverage.----------Linkshttps://texty.org.ua/articles/117235/sprobuj-rabstvo-tobi-spodobayetsya-chomu-svyashchennyky-ne-jdut-z-upc-mp/ ----------ACTIVE CAMPAIGN:We are raising funds for 5 of 15 Vampire DronesSilicon Curtain for Kupiansk Vampires. Dzyga’s Paw, together with Jonathan Fink, is joining forces to raise $40,000 to provide the Khartiia Brigade with Vampire Drones.https://dzygaspaw.com/silicon-curtain-for-kupiansk-vampiresThese heavy bombers are designed to destroy manpower and equipment, as well as for remote mining. The Vampire UAV, manufactured by Skyfall, has proven itself to be one of the most effective weapons in the Kupiansk direction. Skyfall is one of Ukraine’s largest defense tech companies, producing Vampire bomber drones, various modifications of Shrike FPV drones, P1-SUN, Shahed drone interceptors, communication systems, and components.----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Car4Ukrainehttps://car4ukraine.com/en-US/campaignsDzyga's Pawhttps://dzygaspaw.com/projectsSuperhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/----------DESCRIPTION:How Moscow Uses the Ukrainian Orthodox Church as an Influence Network | Liubov Velychko in Kyiv Pechersk LavraUkrainian investigative journalist Liubov Velychko joins Jonathan in Kyiv Pechersk Lavra to discuss how the Ukrainian Orthodox Church under the Moscow Patriarchate functions not only as a religious body but as an influence network shaped by Russian political control. She explains the split between Ukraine’s independent Orthodox Church and the Moscow-linked structure, why many priests and congregations remain (social ties, fear of Russian retaliation, finances, and legal/property constraints), and how narratives are produced hierarchically and delivered flexibly to different audiences under SBU monitoring. The conversation covers criminal cases against some priests for treason and collaboration, differences between occupied and free territories, and how Moscow weaponizes “religious persecution” claims abroad. ----------CHAPTERS:01:32 Why We’re at Lavra03:01 Two Orthodox Churches05:38 Why Priests Stay09:08 Control and Coercion12:49 Why Congregations Attend14:25 How Narratives Spread17:53 SBU Monitoring and Cases22:40 Dangerous War Narratives24:37 Occupied Territory Playbook26:47 Democracy vs Obedience29:25 Church as Occupation Network33:08 Surviving Inside the System37:06 Weaponizing Religion Abroad----------