On November 12-13, 2025, representatives of the Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations (UCCRO) attended the High-Level Conference of the International Religious Freedom or Belief Alliance (IRFBA – Article 18 Alliance) in Prague, Czech Republic. The conference, titled "Freedom of Religion or Belief – A Source of Resilience and Religious Engagement," was held under the patronage of the President of the Czech Republic and marked the Alliance's 5th anniversary. The Alliance is an influential international coalition of 43 states, with the U.S. Department of State's Office of International Religious Freedom serving as its Secretariat and coordination center.
During the ceremonial opening, H.E. Petr Pavel, President of the Czech Republic, delivered welcoming remarks emphasizing the critical importance of protecting freedom of religion in an era of global uncertainty, heightened security challenges, and deepening polarization. He specifically highlighted the dangers of Russia's weaponization of religion against Ukraine and other democratic nations, underscoring the unacceptability of religious persecution by Russian occupiers in Ukraine's temporarily occupied territories.
The first day's program featured a special session titled "Religion as a Source of Resilience in Ukraine," which focused on the work of Ukrainian churches and religious organizations amid Russia's ongoing full-scale invasion. The session addressed crimes committed by Russian occupation forces in the religious sphere, including the destruction of churches, mosques, synagogues, sacred sites, and the persecution and repression of Ukrainian clergy and believers.
The second day began with a joint prayer for the victory of truth and just peace for Ukraine and other war-torn countries. The prayer was offered by UCCRO Chair, Supreme Mufti of Ukraine and Head of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Ukraine Ahmed Tamim, Metropolitan Yevstratiy of Bila Tserkva of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, and Deputy Senior Bishop of the Ukrainian Evangelical Church, Pastor Ivan Rusyn.
During the working panel "Strengthening Freedom of Religion or Belief as a Source of Resilience and Religious Engagement," Metropolitan Yevstratiy underscored UCCRO's significant role in the Ukrainian people's struggle against Russian aggression and in countering new challenges in the religious sector that have emerged during wartime. He drew attention to dangerous ideological transformations in Russia, noting that the so-called "religious community of Russia" has declared its unprovoked and brutal aggression against Ukraine a "holy war" and "an existential struggle between Holy Rus and a degrading, godless world." He emphasized that Russia's weaponization of religion sets a destructive precedent for religious freedom in Europe and poses a challenge to global international security.
Bohdan Movchan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine's representative to IRFBA, delivered remarks during a special working session moderated by IRFBA Chair Robert Řehák, the Czech MFA's Ambassador-at-Large for Holocaust Issues, Interfaith Dialogue, and Freedom of Religion or Belief, with participation from UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief Nazila Ghanea and national representatives from IRFBA member states. In his address, he noted that Russia is waging a prolonged war of attrition using hybrid means including direct military action, relentless aerial terror against civilian targets, infiltration of agents and strengthening of the ‘fifth column’ within Ukraine, dissemination of Kremlin disinformation, manipulation of public opinion, and distortion of international law to justify its war of conquest and discredit Ukraine internationally. He stressed the critical need for comprehensive international assistance to secure Ukraine's victory, safeguard civilizational humanistic values, and uphold the rule of law worldwide. He also emphasized the importance of consolidating international support to prevent the terrorist state from destroying Ukrainian national identity and ensuring swift accountability for Russian war crimes.
During the Conference, UCCRO representatives and the MFA of Ukraine delegate met with David Smith, the United Kingdom's Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief, informing him about religious persecution in the temporarily occupied by Russia Ukrainian territories, the Russian Orthodox Church's support for the war and killings of Ukrainians, and related issues. Throughout both days, the Ukrainian delegation held numerous meetings with foreign delegates to advocate for Ukraine internationally and strengthen the country's positive image worldwide.
On the second day, an exhibition of the project "Icons on Ammunition Boxes" — dedicated to Ukrainian children held in Russian captivity — was displayed in the foyer of the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The exhibition was created by Sonia Atlantova, Oleksandr Klymenko, and Herman Klymenko.
The UCCRO delegation at the Prague conference included: UCCRO Chair, Supreme Mufti of Ukraine and Head of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Ukraine Ahmed Tamim; Metropolitan Yevstratiy of Bila Tserkva (Orthodox Church of Ukraine); Deputy Senior Bishop of the Ukrainian Evangelical Church, Pastor Ivan Rusyn; and Oleksandr Zaiets, Chairman of the Board of the Institute for Religious Freedom.
