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The Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) formally severed ties with Putin's church in protest of the war with Ukraine. The Russian invasion has continued to target civilians and churches. And This is by all reports a “huge blow to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

On Friday the UOC declared “full independence” from Russia. Half of the UOC had been aligned with Moscow even after the invasion of Ukraine. The declaration cutting all ties is historic.  And the church led by Moscow-based Patriarch Kirill is now effectively excommunicated and isolated from the much larger community.

In April half of the 12,000 UOC parishes cut ties with Russia. And 200 priests from those churches signed a letter calling for Kirill to be deposed from his position of authority in the church. Now the rest of the churches who were maintaining loyalty are officially renouncing Moscow.

Putin’s Patriarch loses power

For years Putin has been trying to make the Moscow-based Orthodox Church the only religion in Russia.

 Using state power, he cracked down on "illegal" missionary work by Baptists, Jehovah's Witnesses, Catholics, and other religions. It was an attempt to keep people worshiping in Kirill's flock. He has banned “gay propaganda,” aggressively enforced “anti-blasphemy” laws, and directed state funds into the coffers of the church.

Kirill has become rich in the process. And it was reported in 2006 in The Moscow News Kirill's net worth was $4 billion. 

Putin’s efforts worked. And Kirill has given him unwavering support. He also publicly backed Putin's re-election bids in 2012 and 2018. And supported Russia's intervention in the Syrian civil war as well as, the latest invasion of Ukraine.

Kirill downplays experts 

Kirill's statement on Sunday was an attempt to downplay the importance of losing the rest of the UOC.

"We fully understand how the Ukrainian Orthodox Church is suffering today," he announced in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in central Moscow. He also warned that "spirits of malice" are trying to divide the Orthodox people of Russia and Ukraine. And claims these spirits will not succeed.

Rebekah Koffler, former DIA intelligence officer and author of "Putin’s Playbook," explains that "Kirill and Putin are buddies."  And says Putin "has weaponized the Russian Orthodox religion as a geopolitical tool."

"The idea of Putin unifying the Russian world, including Ukraine and other post-Soviet states, hinges on the idea that Russia is the center of Christianity and the center of the unique Eurasian civilization that the Russians believe is exceptional just like Americans think America is exceptional," Koffler added. "Once the church splits, it takes the whole divinity idea out of it."

Koffler attributed the official split to the military strategy, used by Putin that directly targets civilians, infrastructure, and churches. The cultural and physical genocide of Ukraine. It is believed Putin is willing to create devastation and suffering to get Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to surrender.

"Regardless of whose side you’re on, even if you buy into Putin’s explanation for why he’s doing it, you can’t, as a spiritual person, condone civilian deaths," she said.