Andrei Illarionov, a Russian economist, a senior fellow at the U.S.-based Cato Institute’s Center for Global Liberty and Prosperity and a former adviser to Russian President Vladimir Putin, is convinced that the autocephaly, that is, canonical independence, of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, in Russian perception is equivalent to the collapse of the Soviet Union, therefore the Kremlin will attempt to retain its influence in the religion field until the last.
Russia's War Against Ukraine
UNIAN: Putin’s ex-adviser comments on Russia’s possible reaction to Ukraine church independence
Russian President Vladimir Putin kisses an icon during his visit to the Valaam Monastery on the memorial day of Valaam miracle-workers, Saints Sergius and German on Valaam island in the northern portion of Lake Ladoga on July 11, 2018.
