In October 2022, a new goal was added to Russia’s initially stated goals of its invasion of Ukraine – “denazification” and “demilitarization”. In the Russian media, it was formulated as an urgent need to “desatanize” Ukraine.

The theme of the satanic nature of the West has long been developed in the Kremlin’s propaganda strategy. Dozens of articles on the matter, some claiming to be “scientific”, can be found on the pages of the “Izborskiy Klub” (from Russian: Изборский клуб) and the Strategic Culture Foundation, organizations considered to be official Kremlin propaganda platforms.

Aleksandr Dugin, Valentin Katasonov and Vladimir Putin himself develop the thesis of the satanic, morally degraded West, which only pure, morally elevated and Orthodox Russia can oppose.

It is no surprise that this narrative has now been adapted to serve the Kremlin’s goals in the war with Ukraine.

In recent months, Kremlin propaganda has been spreading misinformation about the growing popularity of cult of Satan in Ukraine, hostility towards the Orthodox Christianity, persecution of Orthodox Christians, and about the degradation and depravity in the Western world.

A satanic ritual in a church?

In early 2023, a video circulating on social media was meant to show satanic rituals taking place in an Orthodox church in Ukraine.

The video shows people in a variety of traditional Ukrainian and other costumes performing a theatrical performance in what looks like an Orthodox church. The footage is also distributed among Bulgarian users.

In most publications, the video is presented as a satanic ritual and a desecration of the church and the Orthodox faith.

In fact, it is a Ukrainian folk custom – vertep, which is performed at Christmas.