Russian state-aligned media alleges systematic Ukrainian persecution of Orthodox clergy

Russian sources report the killing of a monk at the Holy Mountains Lavra and allege a state-sponsored campaign against the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC). These claims, framed as a 'war against Orthodoxy,' serve to justify Russian military objectives and influence domestic and international perceptions of the conflict. The veracity of specific incidents remains difficult to verify independently due to the ongoing conflict and the nature of the source.