Overview
- He spoke in a small church near Moscow to service members and their families, with the short address later released by the Kremlin.
- Putin said troops act “in the service of the Lord” and likened their role to Jesus’ saving mission, while avoiding a direct mention of the war.
- Orthodox theologian Natallia Vasilevich denounced the comparison as blasphemous and said Russia’s greatness and the war have become his true religion.
- Commentators contrasted the sanctified framing with documented civilian suffering and atrocities in places such as Bucha and Mariupol.
- Reporting cited “Christians against the War” and Ukrainian officials who say dozens of clergy have been killed since 2022 and roughly 700 sacred sites have been damaged.