Russia is to send priests to the war front, aiming to boost morale and victory

The Metropolitan of Stavropol, Cyryl, articulated an unusual stance during an interview with the propaganda channel "Rossija24". He noted that about 1,300 priests are needed at the Ukrainian front, signalling a significant shortfall.

This figure is necessary to meet the current demands of the soldiers engaged in the conflict. The rationale behind this surge in clergy numbers is not explicitly clear. Nonetheless, it's speculated that the patriarch is moving to reinforce his presence and influence with the Kremlin.

Since the onset, Patriarch Cyril has been a staunch supporter of the war. He ignored pleas from Ukrainian clergy regarding the damage Russian missiles inflicted on churches. He likewise refrained from condemning these assaults during major Orthodox Church celebrations. Instead, he endorsed these measures, aligning himself with Vladimir Putin.

The Russian Orthodox Church, historically endorsing responsible military service, currently endeavors to back its devout followers engaged in special military operations. It offers pastoral care to those in combat zones, provides humanitarian aid, and prays for the defenders of the homeland, state, and the spiritual and cultural identity of the Russian nation, even at the sacrifice of their lives, was the Patriarch's message to the President of Russia on Defender of the Fatherland Day.

Such declarations aren't new from the Russian clergy. Discussing the conflict in Ukraine, akin to Kremlin leaders, he invoked the notion of Holy War, a concept prevalent in Russia. This term was also used historically to describe the brutal actions of the Russian army in World War II against Nazi Germany.