Yuri Stoyanov

Yuri Stoyanov, a research fellow at SOAS specializing in Eastern Orthodox studies, and Svitlana Morenets, The Spectator's Ukraine correspondent, delve into the schism within Eastern Orthodoxy sparked by the Ukraine conflict. They discuss how the war has forced Ukrainians to choose between rival church affiliations. Stoyanov highlights Patriarch Kirill's apocalyptic rhetoric, which resonates with soldiers but may not reflect the views of ordinary Russians. They also explore rumors of President Putin's involvement in unusual rituals amid the conflict.