On August 25, 2025, a panel on religious freedom took place in Kyiv within the framework of the Faith, Family, Freedom Forum. The discussion focused on various aspects of protecting freedom of religion and belief under conditions of war. The event was held as part of the National Prayer Breakfast at the Temple of Peace of the Evangelical Christian-Baptist Church.

In their speeches, participants emphasized that religious freedom is a fundamental human right that requires special international protection during armed conflicts. Robert Řehák (Czech Republic), Chair of the International Religious Freedom or Belief Alliance and Ambassador, described the current state of freedom of religion worldwide and informed participants about the role of the Alliance in promoting and defending religious freedom across the globe.

Metropolitan Yevstratiy (Zoria) of Bila Tserkva of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine spoke about the advocacy work of the Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations in various countries and highlighted Russia’s use of religion as a weapon to pursue its neo-imperial goals internationally, citing the example of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) and other Russian denominations.

Viktor Yelenskyi, Head of the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Affairs and Freedom of Conscience, reported on the state of religious freedom in Ukraine during the war and the current challenges, in particular in the context of implementing the Law of Ukraine “On the Protection of the Constitutional Order in the Sphere of Activity of Religious Organizations,” which bans the activities of the ROC on Ukrainian territory.

Elijah Brown (USA), Secretary General of the Baptist World Alliance, shared examples of protecting religious freedom in conflict zones around the world and recommended that Ukraine consider appointing an ambassador or special representative within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to communicate accurate information about religious persecution in the occupied territories.

Pastor Mykhailo Brytsyn, Director of the Religious Freedom Department of the Eurasia Mission, presented a study on violations of religious freedom in the occupied territories of Ukraine. Stephen Moore (USA), founder of the Ukraine Freedom Project and former Chief of Staff of the U.S. House of Representatives, spoke about Ukraine’s advocacy efforts in the United States, particularly in raising awareness about religious persecution in the occupied territories of Ukraine.

Pastor Dmytro Bodyu, a U.S. citizen and Chair of the Union of Christian Churches of Ukraine, gave personal testimony about his persecution and imprisonment by Russian occupiers in Melitopol in March 2022. Ayder Rustemov, Chief Mufti of Crimea of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, described the persecution of Crimean Tatars in the occupied territories of Ukraine, cited specific cases, and called for raising one’s voice in defense of truth.

The panel was moderated by Oleksandr Zaiets, Chairman of the Board of the Institute for Religious Freedom. The Faith, Family, Freedom Forum, which included three thematic panels (religious freedom, protection of family values, and the humanitarian mission of churches), brought together more than 200 participants from 41 countries.