Christian World | Ukraine's President Zelensky said Russia has deliberately killed about 120 clergy, and met Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in Istanbul the same day

ACW | November 1, 2026 — Russian forces have killed about 120 members of the clergy in Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday in an interview with the US program "This Week on Capitol Hill."

"The Russians killed about 120 members of the clergy. Intentionally, not by accident, in targeted attacks on these people," Zelensky said, according to the Kyiv Independent. He said some centuries-old religious buildings had been hit by drones and missiles.

Host Tony Perkins asked him about claims by some US commentators, including Tucker Carlson, that Kyiv persecutes religious minorities. "We are very free," Zelensky replied.

Zelensky said Ukraine has Europe's largest council of religious institutions, which meets monthly at the presidential office, the Christian Post reported. The council includes 15 churches and religious organizations, he said, according to the Kyiv Independent.

The same day, Zelensky met Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in Istanbul. In a Telegram post, he said he congratulated the patriarch on the 35th anniversary of his enthronement on November 2 and discussed peace efforts and a humanitarian operation in occupied Oleshky.

No response from Russia appeared in published reports.

Background: The Christian Post noted that Ukraine's parliament passed a law in 2024 banning religious bodies tied to Moscow, a measure some experts criticized and others defended. Forum 18 recently reported fines against a Baptist church and three pastors in Russia; read ACW's report.

Why it matters: The figure of 120 clergy comes from Ukraine's president, and ACW could not verify it independently. In 2024, the Ukrainian Council of Churches said Russian forces had killed dozens of clergy and destroyed hundreds of churches, according to the Christian Post.

ACW will continue to follow this story.

Sources: Kyiv Independent — Russia has killed 120 members of the clergy, Zelensky says; Volodymyr Zelensky — Telegram post on meeting Patriarch Bartholomew; Christian Post — Zelensky responds to critics

Photo: Patriarch Bartholomew at the Arctic Circle Assembly, 2017 — Arctic Circle, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)