U.S. Lawmakers Introduce 'Countering Russia’s War On Faith Act'

Rep. Joe Wilson. Photo: abccolumbia.com

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Members of the U.S. Congress have introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation aimed at addressing what lawmakers describe as Russia’s systematic persecution of religious communities in Ukraine and Russian-occupied territories.

The proposed legislation, titled the "Countering Russia’s War on Faith Act," was introduced in the House by U.S. Helsinki Commission Chairman Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC), Ranking Member Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN), and Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Don Bacon (R-NE), and Mike Quigley (D-IL). Companion legislation was introduced in the Senate by Sens. John Kennedy (R-LA) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI).

"Russia perversely portrays Ukraine as a persecutor of Christians, when it is Moscow that has destroyed over 600 churches, synagogues, mosques, and places of worship in Ukraine throughout this war," the press release from Rep. Wilson's office quotes Rep. Kaptur as saying.

The Union of Orthodox Journalists of America has reported on the destruction of religious sites by Russia. Notably, of at least 742 religious and spiritual sites that were damaged or destroyed in Ukraine between February 24, 2022, and February 24, 2026, 395 belonged to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) — far more than any other religious group. Despite this, the release contains no mention of the UOC — even on an issue of common cause.

Notably, Rep. Wilson and Rep. Bacon have been critical of the UOC, as well as Orthodox Christians who raise awareness of its persecution by Ukrainian authorities and Russian aggression. 

The bill would require the U.S. Secretaries of State and Defense to jointly report on Russian efforts to persecute, suppress, and violate the religious freedoms of faith communities in Ukraine and occupied regions. It would also direct the President to impose sanctions on foreign individuals found responsible for such actions.

Rep. Wilson said Russia targets people of faith “as a matter of policy” in territories it invades, accusing President Vladimir Putin of seeking to suppress religious communities that do not submit to state control or align with the Russian Orthodox Church under "former KGB agent" Patr. Kirill.

“Believers in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine are targeted with particular ferocity,” Wilson said. “It is critical that we counter Russia’s War on Faith.”

Rep. Cohen described the legislation as part of a broader effort to defend Ukrainian identity and religious liberty, while Rep. Fitzpatrick called Russia’s actions “a calculated, systemic assault on religious freedom.”

Rep. Kaptur stated that Russia’s campaign is aimed not only at territorial control but also at “forcible Russification” and the destruction of Ukraine’s pluralistic religious life. 

Sen. Kennedy described religious liberty as a foundational American principle and said the legislation would expose and respond to what he called "Putin’s religious persecution." Sen. Whitehouse added that Russia’s attacks on clergy and religious communities not aligned with the Moscow Patriarchate require a stronger U.S. response.

The full text of the bill can be read here.

Previously, the UOJ reported that the United Nations had criticized Ukraine for imprisoning UOC believers.

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