The State of Religious Minorities in Ukraine

Last week, the Washington Post obtained a letter from the U.S. to the United Nations warning of further Russian human rights abuses against vulnerable groups in Ukraine, including religious minorities. While the letter did not specify which religious groups would be targeted, it alleged that "Russian forces are creating lists of identified Ukrainians to be killed or sent to camps following a military occupation." By far, the majority religious tradition in Ukraine is Orthodox Christianity (78 percent of the population, according to a 2017 Pew report). Religious minorities include Greek Catholics (10 percent), Protestant Christians (1-2.5 percent), as well as Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, Roman Catholics, and Pagans. There is also a small number of Jehovah's Witnesses and Latter-day Saints. More than 13 percent of the illegally annexed Crimea is composed of Tatar Muslims. As the long shadow of Russia falls on Ukraine, these religious minorities are among those who are most at risk if Russia's military campaign succeeds.