Putin’s Continuing War on Ukraine’s Christians

We are making more films because Vladimir Putin is destroying more churches, killing more Ukrainian Christians, trafficking more Ukrainian children, and lying about it to the world. Too many believe him. Putin has shut down every church in occupied Ukraine he does not control and made it a crime punishable by years in prison to hold a Bible study in one’s home. Not a single Catholic priest remains in occupied Ukraine. The Russians have destroyed more than 800 churches, killed dozens of pastors and priests and taken tens of thousands of Ukrainian children into Russia, yet Ukraine Freedom Project polling shows that 31% of Republicans see Russia as a country that promotes and encourages traditional family values.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. Forty-seven percent of Trump’s voters identify as evangelical Christians, with Catholics comprising an additional 25%. Russia spends $2 billion on promoting its false messages worldwide annually, much of it targeting this group. Anna Shvetsova and I have been pushing back on the massive flow of Russian disinformation to Christians since the summer of 2023. In the summer of 2024, Colorado-based entrepreneur and (at the time) aspiring filmmaker Colby Barrett asked us to partner with him on a documentary film. Anna and I took Colby and a documentary film crew on two 10-day trips around the Ukrainian front interviewing Christians who were fighting back against Putin’s oppression and told stories of triumph through faith. These efforts produced the award-winning documentary “A Faith Under Siege.” Other Topics of Interest Why Russia Does Not Want Peace – Analysis of the Kremlin’s Latest Statements Analysis of what Vladimir Putin and his inner circle are saying and doing sends a clear signal: the Kremlin’s plans revolve exclusively around escalation. After its May of 2025 premier at The Museum of the Bible, “A Faith Under Siege“ has reached millions through multiple showings on Newsmax, the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN), the Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) and elsewhere. Content by FourthSign Productions, Colby’s production company, is streaming on Angel Studios, DIRECTV, SalemNOW, Newsmax+, TBN+, FaithChannel and many more. Our content has millions of views across YouTube. Polling by the Ukraine Freedom Project shows 3.1 million American evangelical Christians have seen the film, and 11 million are aware of the film thanks to the efforts of The Special Marketing Operation, which has donated nearly 200 million online ads placements so far to promote “A Faith Under Siege.” Colby and I co-authored an op-ed for the Wall Street Journal last November showing how a surge in support for Ukraine among religious conservatives has driven the larger resurgence of support for Ukraine among Republicans. 5 new films debut in August The creative team behind “A Faith Under Siege” is releasing five new short films. The Trinity Broadcasting Network has made August “Faith in War” month with a Friday primetime special on each short film. FourthSign Productions, the team behind the award-winning documentary “A Faith Under Siege,” which chronicles extraordinary stories of faith amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and its campaign of religious persecution, will premiere a new five-episode series, “Faith in War“ across multiple platforms. The series debuts on the official A Faith Under Siege YouTube channel on Aug. 2 at 5:00 pm PT, followed by full series access on TBN+ beginning Aug. 6, with weekly broadcast specials to follow. "Faith in War" shines a light on extraordinary stories of faith, courage, and resilience from the front lines of Ukraine. “Faith in War” brings viewers face-to-face with pastors, missionaries, US special forces veterans, humanitarian workers, and families who have chosen courage and service in the face of relentless Russian aggression in Ukraine. Through intimate storytelling and firsthand accounts, the series explores the enduring power of faith, hope, and community during one of the defining humanitarian crises of our time. The series has already earned recognition from the Faith in Film International Film Festival, the Christian Family Film Festival, Global Shorts, the Religion Faith International Film Festival, and the Christian Arts Film Festival. The five episodes each offer a unique perspective on the realities of Russia’s war on faith and the resilience of the human spirit: The Stolen Children follows US.combat veteran and director of Independent Women’s Center for American Safety and Security, Meaghan Mobbs, as she uncovers Russia’s systematic abduction of Ukrainian children and the devastating impact on families fighting to reunite with their loved ones and rebuild their lives. Safe Ground follows retired US Army Green Beret Ryan Hendrickson as he leads efforts to remove deadly landmines in Ukraine, helping communities reclaim their future while giving veterans renewed purpose through service. Even in the Ruins chronicles the indomitable spirit of frontline chaplain Mark Sergeev after the American-inspired megachurch his father built was seized and his home destroyed. He chooses to rebuild rather than retreat, inspiring legions who have been devastated by Russia’s invasion. No Surrender depicts a modern-day David vs. Goliath story, following Ukrainian pastor Yuri Babinets, who chose to remain in Kyiv when Russia’s full-scale invasion began, defending his church against two Russian tank columns, serving his community, sharing the Gospel, and leading with unwavering faith amid the realities of war. Soldiers of Light tells the powerful story of US Special Forces veteran and missionary Christian Hickey and his family’s decision to answer God’s call by serving communities on Ukraine’s front lines, bringing humanitarian aid, spiritual care, and the Gospel to those devastated by war. “These episodes are about far more than war – they’re about people whose faith has remained unshaken in the face of extraordinary adversity,” said Colby Barrett, producer of the “Faith in War“ series. “Vladimir Putin and the Russian military are trying to break their spirit. Instead, their faith gives them the strength to endure and to serve. Whether it’s a pastor rebuilding after losing everything, a family answering a call to serve, or parents fighting to bring stolen children home, these are stories of courage, sacrifice, and hope that deserve to be seen around the world.” For too long, Russia’s campaign against people of faith in Ukraine has unfolded largely out of public view. “This series gives a voice to the pastors, families, and volunteers who continue to stand firm in their faith despite extraordinary persecution.” “By sharing their stories, we hope audiences around the world gain a deeper understanding of both the human cost of this war and the extraordinary resilience, compassion, and faith that continue to sustain communities across Ukraine,” added Anna Shvetsova, executive producer. Together, the series illuminates the vital role faith communities continue to play across Ukraine, offering spiritual care, humanitarian relief, and unwavering hope to those living through conflict. By documenting these firsthand accounts, “Faith in War“ preserves stories of resilience that too often go untold while inviting audiences to reflect on the universal themes of compassion, perseverance, and religious freedom. The promotion of the content for “A Faith Under Siege” largely comes from the generosity of the donors to the Ukraine Freedom Project. If you find our work supporting Ukraine’s fight for freedom and pushing for a strong foreign policy valuable, please make a tax deductible donation to support our work. The views expressed in this opinion article are the author’s and not necessarily those of Kyiv Post.