The Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) continues to demonstrate its transformation from a spiritual institution to a propaganda mechanism of state policy. In one of the temples of the Valaam Monastery, a provocative fresco was presented, which sparked a sharp public discussion.
The depicted scene shows a Russian serviceman with the symbolic letter Z, who is bandaging the wound of a Ukrainian soldier. Although visually suggesting an idea of mercy, expert analyses reveal a different context – a purposeful ideological message to legitimize military aggression.
According to a report by the Center for Countering Disinformation, the ROC systematically goes beyond its traditional spiritual functions. Religious spaces are turning into platforms for militaristic propaganda, where sacred art is used as an instrument for moral justification of violence.
Church institutions are actively participating in public mobilization, presenting the war as a "sacred mission". They not only bless military actions but directly construct the narrative of aggression, serving state interests more than true spiritual values.
This tendency reveals the deep symbiosis between the religious institution and state policy, turning the ROC into a key element of the Kremlin's information war.