A new chapter has opened in Russia’s information and religious influence operations in the United States: a delegation linked to the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) has arrived in Washington, D.C., seeking meetings on Capitol Hill and at the White House. Their objective is to promote the narrative of alleged “persecution of Christians in Ukraine” — a long-running pillar of Kremlin propaganda.
The delegation includes representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR), the Orthodox Church in America, and the Serbian Orthodox Church in the United States — all structures with direct or indirect ties to the Moscow Patriarchate. Following their congressional meetings, the group is scheduled to visit the newly established White House Office of Faith-Based Initiatives, which serves as a platform for engaging presidential religious advisors.
The lobbying push is being coordinated by American lawyer and lobbyist Robert Amsterdam, who was hired by pro-Russian Ukrainian businessman and former lawmaker Vadym Novynskyi.
Why Now? A Response to Ukrainian Religious Advocacy in the U.S.
Russia’s sudden escalation of religious lobbying appears to be a direct reaction to the increasingly active efforts of Ukrainian religious leaders and human rights advocates in the United States.
This week, a delegation of Ukrainian evangelical leaders is holding meetings in Washington, drawing attention to Russian war crimes, including the forced deportation and abduction of Ukrainian children. Representatives of Save Ukraine also visited House Speaker Mike Johnson’s church in Louisiana, sharing firsthand accounts of persecution of Christians in Russian-occupied territories.
In addition, The Kyiv Independent recently concluded its U.S. screening tour of journalist Danylo Mokryk’s documentary on religious repression under Russian occupation. Ukrainian-American organization Razom for Ukraine continues to work consistently on issues related to religious freedom and Russia’s systematic violations.
These advocacy efforts, rooted in factual documentation of Russia’s actions, directly challenge the Kremlin’s preferred narrative — and have clearly triggered a counter-campaign.
Strong Pushback in Washington
The Russian delegation’s attempts to influence U.S. policymakers have been met with firm resistance from both religious leaders and members of Congress.
Key reactions include:
- Pastor Mark Burns, a spiritual advisor to former President Donald Trump, warned officials against engaging with the ROC delegation:
“When a church collaborates closely with a regime that blesses bombs and trades in death, we cannot pretend that we are participating in a simple spiritual dialogue.” - Congressman Don Bacon (R-NE) raised concerns about the Kremlin’s role:
“Does our intelligence community know that the Russian Orthodox Church is funded by the Russian state?” - Congressman Joe Wilson (R-SC) formally requested that the U.S. Department of Justice investigate the activities of the ROC in America as a potential foreign influence operation:
“The Russian Orthodox Church is not an independent religious body. It is an extension of the Russian state. Members of Congress should not take part in its intelligence operations.”
Following Wilson’s public statement, his office began receiving a wave of phone calls and emails — ostensibly from constituents — accusing him of “persecuting Orthodox Christians.” The coordinated nature of the messages strongly suggests an orchestrated pressure campaign.
Additionally, Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna, who recently met with Putin’s envoy Kirill Dmitriev, echoed Russian talking points by accusing Ukraine of “imprisoning Orthodox believers.”
A Strategic Moment Moscow Wants to Exploit
Russia’s renewed push comes at a time when the information landscape in the U.S. is particularly vulnerable, amid:
- recent remarks by Donald Trump about alleged “persecution of Christians in Nigeria,”
- an internal corruption scandal involving the Ukrainian government.
The Kremlin is attempting to seize this moment to reassert its propaganda lines, again framing itself as a “defender of Orthodoxy” while deflecting attention from its own systematic destruction of churches, clergy, and religious communities in Ukraine.
Despite these efforts, many U.S. policymakers, analysts, and faith leaders recognize the geopolitical motivations behind Moscow’s actions. They continue to resist Russian disinformation tactics — even as such efforts grow more aggressive and sophisticated.
