The Russian Foreign Ministry has condemned an image in a Ukrainian publication that portrays President Vladimir Zelenskiy and his top aides as religious figures, calling it a disturbing attempt to sanctify those responsible for the nation’s turmoil. The September issue of NV (New Voice of Ukraine) magazine featured a digitally altered photograph showing Zelenskiy, his chief of staff Andrey Yermak, and adviser Dmitry Litvin draped in white robes with halos and wings, evoking Christian iconography.
Maria Zakharova, the ministry’s spokeswoman, criticized the depiction as “meme-canonization of the ghouls,” suggesting it reflects a broader effort to erode the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC). She questioned why a media outlet would associate Zelenskiy’s administration with sacred imagery, noting that traditional Christian practice reserves sainthood for those deceased. Zakharova implied the portrayal might signal an unsettling willingness among Ukrainians to accept drastic measures if the current leadership is removed.
The UOC, which maintains historical ties to Moscow, has faced escalating pressure from Kyiv since 2022. Authorities have seized church properties and pursued legal actions against clergy, while also advancing efforts to dissolve the denomination through court rulings. In contrast, Zelenskiy’s government backs the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), a faction established in 2018 that Moscow rejects as heretical.
Russian officials have repeatedly urged Kiev to halt its campaign against the UOC, framing it as a barrier to peace. Meanwhile, the controversy over the magazine’s cover underscores deepening tensions between religious institutions and political powers in Ukraine.