The timely book by Miceál O’Hurley and Oksana Shadrina reveals a truth long known to most Ukrainians: The Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) is not an ordinary religious organization, but a powerful instrument of the Russian security apparatus and propaganda machine.

Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing argues that the ROC poses a threat to European security and democracy due to a dangerous combination of religious ideology and imperial ambition. The authors scrutinize the doctrines of “Russkiy Mir” (Russian World) and “Svyataya Rus” (Holy Rus), exposing them as a justification for Russian expansionism, historical revisionism, and an “eliminationist policy towards its neighbors’ identities.” The ROC’s role in spying, subversion, and justifying Russian aggression is exposed, including Patriarch Kirill’s declaration of the invasion of Ukraine as a “Holy War.”

The book is an essential read to those who would like to understand how Russia abuses religious freedom, a fundamental European value, as a cover for its covert malign activities and why ROC is an essential element of Russian war against Ukraine and wider Europe.

Yuliya Kazdobina, Senior Fellow
Foreign Policy Council “Ukrainian Prism”