Patriarch Kirill Endorses Russian Military Operations Amid Ongoing Strikes on Orthodox Sites (euobserver.com)

• Patriarch Kirill provides theological justification for ongoing Russian military campaigns.
• Kremlin forces continue to target infrastructure, including historical Orthodox religious sites.
• Civilian casualty figures exceed 2,500 over the past year.

"Patriarch Kirill of the Russian Orthodox Church has reaffirmed his support for the Kremlin's war in Ukraine, publicly praising the troops for their actions despite the conflict's devastating impact on civilians. Official reports indicate that military strikes, including those against religious sites, have resulted in over 2,500 civilian casualties within the last year. This alignment between the Orthodox leadership and the Russian state highlights the use of religious institutions to validate military aggression, further complicating the humanitarian situation and the ideological landscape of the ongoing conflict."