DECOLONIZATION OF THE UKRAINIAN NATION: RELIGIOUS AND HISTORIOSOPHICAL CHALLENGES IN THE CONTEXT OF THE RUSSIAN-UKRAINIAN WAR

Abstract

The article examines the urgency of decolonizing the Ukrainian nation in the context of the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian war, with a focus on the re-ligious-historiosophical aspect. It explores the role of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) and the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) as factors of spiritual sovereignty and national revival, in contrast to the destructive activities of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP) as a tool of Russian neo-imperialism. Based on an analysis of historical sources and contemporary events, the need to neutralize the post-colonial influence of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) for strengthening Ukraine’s national security is substantiated. Key conclusions emphasize the priority of religious decolonization in state humanitarian policy. In particular, it was concluded that during the current Russian-Ukrainian war, when the non-Bol-shevik Kremlin regime is striving to destroy the national identity of Ukrainians, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, along with the Local Church of Ukraine, is actively defending the Ukrainian nation. In particular, chaplains in the army, medical chaplains, and volunteer chaplains play a significant role. In contrast to the leaders of the Moscow Church in Ukraine, the hierarchs of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and the Local Church of Ukraine have always demonstrated greater spirituality and a significantly more dedicated service to the Church and the faithful. Consequently, strengthening the identity of the Ukrainian nation and neutralizing the imperial religious and ideological influence of the Moscow Patriarchate should be one of the priorities of the state security and humanitarian policy of the Ukrainian state.