Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Israeli raids targeted a cement plant, an asphalt factory, and fuel tanks in the Ansar area in South Lebanon
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: A series of violent Israeli raids targeted the outskirts of the town of Ansar
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Israeli warplanes raided the outskirts of the town of Shmestar in Bekaa, eastern Lebanon
Donald Trump will speak with Russian leader Vladimir Putin on Thursday: White House
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: Israeli warplanes raid the town of Bnaafoul, Saida district
YAF: Israeli enemy will pay for this crime.
Yemeni Armed Forces: Son of Major General Al-Ghamari martyred alongside him in Israeli aggression.
Yemeni Armed Forces: YAF mourns martyrdom of Chief of the General Staff Mohammad Abd al-Karim al-Ghamari.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Palestinian shot and killed by IOF east of Al-Bureij camp in the central Gaza Strip
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: Occupation forces opened machine gun fire toward outskirts of Aitaroun as locals headed for olive harvest.

Medvedev condemns Ukraine’s crackdown on Orthodox Church as 'satanism'

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News websites
  • 23 Aug 2024 16:07
  • 2 Shares
4 Min Read

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has denounced Ukraine’s crackdown on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church as “satanism,” blaming both former President Poroshenko and current President Zelensky for serving Western interests by harming the Orthodox Church under the pretense of fighting Russia.

Listen
  • x
  • Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman and the head of the United Russia party Dmitry Medvedev attends a meeting on labour legislation improvement in Moscow, Russia, on July 10, 2024. (AP)
    Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman and the head of the United Russia Party Dmitry Medvedev attends a meeting on labor legislation improvement in Moscow, Russia, on July 10, 2024. (AP)

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has condemned Ukraine's recent actions against the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) as "satanism" and a move to "outdo the atheism of the Soviet period."

In a harsh critique, Medvedev stated that while the Soviet Union, despite its atheist stance, did not ban religions, the current Ukrainian authorities, which he dubbed "neo-Nazi', appeared to be undertaking a more extreme approach.

"This vile story was started, as we know, by Poroshenko," Medvedev declared.

He accused Ukrainian officials of launching a "vile story" against the UOC, a campaign he attributes to former President Petro Poroshenko. "In order to please his own ambitions and to be elected president of Ukraine, he agreed with the West on a split in Orthodoxy and the creation of the heretical PCU," Medvedev explained.

Zelensky exacerbated persecution of Orthodox Christians

Medvedev described the creation of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) as a failed initiative and criticized Poroshenko's successors. He labeled current Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as a "drug-addicted creature" lacking religious identity, who has exacerbated the persecution of Orthodox Christians.

"This is where the defeat of Ukrainian Orthodoxy and persecution of Christians for their faith began," he said, referring to the Ukrainian parliament’s recent decision stemming from the Poroshenko era.

In his statement, Medvedev accused Zelensky and his government of engaging in what he called "full-fledged Satanism."

He further asserted that the West supports this crackdown to damage Russia.

"The cocaine creature and his ghouls" are supported by the "civilized West" to inflict harm on Russia and its citizens, Medvedev claimed.

Related News

Ukraine moves to ban Orthodox Church over alleged Moscow ties

Raid on Ukrainian Orthodox Church leaves Metropolitan injured

Medvedev prophesied severe consequences for Ukraine, likening its fate to that of Sodom and Gomorrah from the Old Testament.

"The country will be destroyed like Sodom and Gomorrah, and the demons will inevitably fall," he warned.

He cited a biblical passage, "Then Jesus struck them and killed them and hanged them on five trees; and they hung on the trees until evening" (Joshua 10:26), to underscore his prediction of imminent retribution.

Medvedev concluded by expressing his belief that "the True Orthodox Church in the former Ukrainian lands will shine in its former splendor" once the current trials are over.

Russian church condemns Kiev's ban on Ukraine Orthodox Church

The Russian Orthodox Church has condemned a vote by Ukrainian lawmakers to ban the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC).

This comes after MPs in Kiev on Tuesday approved a bill that outlaws religious organizations connected to Russia, including the UOC, which is alleged to be affiliated with the Russian Orthodox Church, also known as the Moscow Patriarchate.

In a statement published on Telegram, Russian Orthodox Church spokesman Vladimir Legoida called the vote "an unlawful act" and "the grossest violation of the basic principles of freedom of conscience and human rights."

He warned that the bill, which still requires President Volodymyr Zelensky's signature to become law, lays the groundwork for "the total liquidation of the parishes of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church."

Legoida warned that enforcing this law could lead to "acts of mass violence against millions of believers."

The move comes amid heightened tensions amid Russia's military operation in Ukraine. Patriarch Kirill, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, cited the challenging times the Church is facing, stating that many have turned against them "not because we are bad but only because we are different."

In contrast, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky defended the law, stating that it would strengthen Ukraine's independence, particularly in the context of the ongoing war which has inadvertently led to religious divides as a result of Ukrainian authorities targeting Russian elements. 

Zelensky hailed the Verkhovna Rada's decision as a step toward "spiritual independence" and stressed the government's commitment to "strengthening Ukraine and our society."

Read more: How the war on the Moscow Patriarchate is a war on collective identity

  • Russia
  • war in Ukraine
  • Ukraine
  • Russian Orthodox Church
  • Orthodox Church
  • Orthodox Church of Ukraine
  • Ukrainian Orthodox Church
  • Dmitry Medvedev
Russia & NATO

Russia & NATO

As the Draconian Western-led sanctions on Russia exacerbate the economic crisis worldwide, and as Russian troops gain more ground despite the influx of military aid into Ukraine, exposing US direct involvement in bio-labs spread across Eastern Europe and the insurgence of neo-Nazi groups… How will things unfold?

Most Read

Iran strikes secret Israeli-US bunker under Tel Aviv high-rise

Tel Aviv high-rise struck by Iran hid Site 81, secret US-Israeli base

  • Politics
  • 14 Oct 2025
Palestinian journalist Saleh al-Jaafarawi in an undated image in Gaza, occupied Palestine (Social media)

Gaza Palestinian journalist Saleh al-Jafarawi killed by collaborators

  • Politics
  • 12 Oct 2025
drop site

New report details extensive Israeli arson in Gaza after ceasefire

  • Politics
  • 13 Oct 2025
Illustration of fists breaking shackles, representing the liberation of Palestinian detainees from Israeli prisons. (Illustrated by: AL Mayadeen English/Batoul Chamas)

4 prominent Palestinian detainees to be freed: Who are they?

  • Palestine
  • 13 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
A person shops at a grocery store in Schaumburg, Ill., Thursday, September 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Economy

75% of Americans report higher costs despite Trump’s inflation claim

With the government shutdown now in its third week, a sign turns away tourists at the entrance to the Capitol Visitor Center, in Washington, Wednesday, October 15, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Politics

US judge blocks shutdown layoffs amid Trump threats to cut jobs

Bill Ackman speaks about higher education and Harvard University at the twenty-eighth annual Milken Institute Global Conference at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California, on May 6, 2025. (Patrick T. Fallon / AFP via Getty Images)
Politics

Bill Ackman donates $1 mln to anti-Mamdani PAC in NYC mayoral race

Members of the Pentagon press corp carry their belongings out of the Pentagon after turning in their press credentials, on October 15, 2025 in Washington. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)
US & Canada

Pentagon journalists vacate workspaces as new restrictions take effect

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS