UGCC Head Shevchuk Claims Putin Wants Him Dead
UGCC leader Sviatoslav Shevchuk claims Putin wants him dead, linking the threat to his defense of religious freedom amid the Ukraine conflict.
KYIV — Sviatoslav Shevchuk, head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC), has reportedly claimed that Russian President Vladimir Putin wants him dead, according to an article published on December 22, 2025, by the Australian newspaper The Australian.
The piece, titled “Putin wants this man dead,” describes Shevchuk as “a brave leader who today condemns the Russian tyrant and Putin’s religious leader – Patriarch Kirill.” It outlines Shevchuk’s biography and the history of the UGCC, highlighting his outspoken criticism of Russian policies and the war in Ukraine.
Shevchuk linked threats against him to his advocacy for “free Christianity, free thought, and liberation from a system of oppression and manipulation.” While the article notes that there is no verified evidence of a formal threat or “hit list,” it emphasizes that the ongoing conflict demonstrates the extreme lengths to which Putin might go.
The report underscores the intersection of religion, politics, and conflict in the region.
Previously, the UOJ reported that Shevchuk argued that Orthodox shrines should be accessible to members of the UGCC.
