The Religious Factor as an Instrument of Russia’s Hybrid Influence in Europe

Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the role of religious institutions within Russian hybrid warfare has attracted growing security attention in Europe. This paper examines how structures affiliated with the Moscow Patriarchate function as instruments of Russian influence across Germany, France, Poland, the Baltic states, the United Kingdom, and Scandinavia. The study focuses on the ideology of the “Russkiy Mir,” institutional links between the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) and Russian state structures, and the transformation of the ROC from a soft-power actor into a securitised component of Russia’s geopolitical strategy after 2022. Using comparative qualitative analysis, securitisation theory, and OSINT verification through source triangulation, the research identifies recurring operational patterns across different European security environments. The findings indicate that the ROC network functions not only as a religious institution but also as a mechanism for ideological dissemination, political coordination, intelligence support, and influence operations targeting Russian-speaking communities and Ukrainian refugees. The paper additionally highlights regulatory vulnerabilities within the EU and analyses the response models developed by the Baltic states. The research contributes to current debates on hybrid warfare, democratic resilience, and the securitisation of religious infrastructure in Europe.