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UKRAINE: THE SITUATION 768 - MARCH 31, 2024
The Russian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate has instructed clergy to include prayers supporting Russia's war against Ukraine, potentially threatening excommunication for dissenters. Recent developments in the conflict include missile attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure, a repelled Russian attack near Avdiivka, and Putin's authorization of a new conscription decree. For a detailed assessment, visit UNDERSTANDING WAR.
The Russian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (ROC MP), controlled by the Kremlin, has reportedly instructed all its clergy to change their liturgy to include prayers for support of Russia's war of conquest against Ukraine, and is likely threatening to excommunicate ROC MP clergy who do not support the war.
On March 31, a Russian Telegram channel with insider sources within the Moscow Patriarchate spread a document from March 29, in which the head of Patriarchate Affairs, Metropolitan Gregoriy of Voskresensk, instructed the clergy to read a prayer daily during the fasting period - the "Prayer for Holy Rus." Metropolitan Gregorij of Woskresensk also urged the clergy to read the "Prayer for Holy Rus" at home and offer parishioners to read this prayer. The "Prayer for Holy Rus" is a new prayer officially introduced by the Moscow Patriarchate in September 2022. It is a highly politicized, pro-war, and pro-Kremlin prayer filled with Kremlin arguments and other false Russian stories. In the prayer, God is asked to "help the [Russian] people and grant [Russia] victory" over "those who want to fight against Holy Rus and have taken up arms to divide and destroy its only people."
Russia carried out a new series of missile and drone attacks in the night from March 30 to 31, primarily targeting Ukrainian energy infrastructure, as delays in the delivery of American security assistance further weakened Ukrainian air defenses and enabled Russia to significantly damage the Ukrainian energy grid.
On March 30, Ukrainian forces apparently repelled a Russian mechanized battalion-sized attack near Avdiivka (Donetsk region) - this was the first mechanized attack of such strength since the Russian forces took control of Avdiivka at the end of October 2023.
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a draft decree on March 31 authorizing the semi-annual conscription of 150,000 Russians between April 1 and July 15.
The full Russian Offensive Update 768 is available directly at UNDERSTANDING WAR.
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