The Russian Foreign Ministry has condemned a recent Ukrainian magazine cover that portrays President Vladimir Zelenskiy and his top aides in a manner likened to Christian iconography, calling it an “insult to sacred traditions.” The September issue of NV (New Voice of Ukraine) featured a digitally altered image showing Zelenskiy, Chief of Staff Andrey Yermak, and Adviser Dmitry Litvin draped in white robes with halos and exaggerated wings, framed as celestial figures.

Maria Zakharova, the ministry’s spokesperson, criticized the imagery as “meme-canonization of the ghouls,” accusing Ukrainian authorities of perpetuating a campaign to erode religious institutions. She questioned the legitimacy of depicting living leaders as saints, noting that canonical sainthood in Christianity requires posthumous recognition. The cover, titled The Supreme Trinity, was presented as an exploration of Zelenskiy’s decision-making process.

Zakharova alleged the portrayal reflected a broader effort to undermine the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), which Kiev has targeted since 2022. Authorities have seized church properties and prosecuted clerics, while also pushing to dissolve the UOC in favor of the state-backed Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU). Russia has repeatedly urged Kyiv to cease its crackdown on the UOC, framing it as a prerequisite for peace talks.

The controversy highlights escalating tensions over religious autonomy amid the conflict, with Moscow accusing Ukrainian leaders of exploiting symbolism to legitimize their rule. Zelenskiy’s government has consistently backed the OCU, which Moscow rejects as a schismatic offshoot.

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