US lawmakers push to require reports on Russia's actions in Ukraine
Photo: US wants to require the State Department and Pentagon to report on Russia's actions in Ukraine (Getty Images)
Several US senators have introduced a bill that would require the Secretary of State and the head of the Pentagon to report on Russia’s violations of religious freedom in Ukraine, according to the chairman of the US Helsinki Commission, Republican Congressman Joe Wilson.
The initiative is bipartisan, introduced by members of both the Republican and Democratic parties. The bill aims to counter Russia’s attacks on freedom of religion.
According to Wilson, Russia persecutes and kills believers as a political objective in all territories it invades. He said Russian leader Vladimir Putin is trying to restrict freedom of worship and is destroying religions that do not submit to the state church.
The congressman also stressed that religious communities in temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine face particularly severe repression and highlighted the need to counter such actions.
Under the bill, the US Secretary of State and the head of the Pentagon must jointly prepare reports on persecution, suppression, and violations of religious freedom in Ukraine, including in territories occupied by Russia.
The legislation also instructs the US president to impose sanctions on foreign individuals found responsible for such actions.
Russia uses religion as a weapon
Russian occupation authorities in seized parts of Ukraine have launched widespread persecution of churches and religious organizations, leading to a sharp decline in religious freedom in territories not controlled by Ukraine.
As analysts at the Institute for the Study of War noted in a special report, Russia is using religion as a weapon.
The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine also stated in its February 2026 report that Russian authorities restricted freedom of religion or belief, freedom of expression, and freedom of peaceful assembly.
