On February 11, the head of Russia's Orthodox Church expressed concerns about the spread of paganism in the Ukrainian combat zone and urged action to maintain the church's influence there. Patriarch Kirill, a supporter of Russia's military actions in Ukraine, highlighted the emergence of neo-pagan beliefs among some military members. He emphasized the need for priests to prevent the influence of paganism on military personnel, attributing the conflict in Ukraine to forces aiming to weaken Russia and the Russian Orthodox Church. Kirill's remarks underscore his opposition to Western values, including homosexuality. The Kremlin portrays the invasion as a mission to "denazify" Ukraine, whereas Moscow has been criticized for instigating the conflict.