Ukrainian religious scholar suggests using Soviet methods to popularize OCU

Head of the Department of Philosophy and History of Religion of the Institute of Philosophy of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Liudmyla Fylypovych, proposed to use Soviet mechanisms of influence on public consciousness to popularize the OCU. This statement was made on October 28, 2025, on Channel 5 during a discussion of the religious situation in the country.

According to the Information and Education Department of the UOC, the discussion in the studio concerned the reasons for the continued significant support for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the western regions of the country. In response to a journalist’s question, Filipovich said that “we need to work with people” and conduct explanatory activities about the history of the OCU and the desire for autocephaly.

Then the religious scholar expressed the controversial idea of borrowing the experience of the past. “You know… we often remember our Soviet-era state only in negative ways. But we need to remember that a very strong system of influence on people’s minds was built. We were all, you know, builders of communism,” she said. Immediately afterward, she made a suggestion: “And we need to adopt these mechanisms, but already implement our ideas…”.

It is noted that the journalist interrupted Lyudmyla Filipovych’s presentation of her ideas at this point by asking another question. However, the key message about the possible use of Soviet methodologies to shape the religious preferences of Ukrainians was heard live.

Earlier, Lyudmyla Filipovych said that despite all the actions of the state to liquidate the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, support for the UOC will not decrease, and the Church itself will sue the state to defend its rights.