H.R. 8433, Countering Russia’s War on Faith Act

Bottom Line Up Front

H.R. 8433 / S. 4379, the Countering Russia’s War on Faith Act, seeks to hold accountable those responsible for religious persecution in Russian-occupied Ukraine. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion, Moscow has systematically targeted religious communities by destroying places of worship, killing clergy, and pressuring faith groups to conform to Kremlin-controlled institutions. Reports from international religious freedom monitors and the Ukrainian government indicate that hundreds of religious sites have been damaged or destroyed, and clergy have been detained, tortured, or killed. These actions are a direct violation of fundamental human rights and religious freedom. The Countering Russia’s War on Faith Act would require the U.S. government to document these abuses and impose sanctions on those responsible. This legislation ensures perpetrators of religious persecution are identified and held accountable, reinforcing U.S. leadership in promoting international religious freedom.

Click here to read the full legislative text and view the list of cosponsors.

Why It Matters

• Systematic religious persecution: Russian forces have targeted religious communities in occupied Ukraine, especially those unaffiliated with the Russian Orthodox Church. The independent and bipartisan U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom has documented widespread repression, including raids, detentions, and forced closures of places of worship.
• Extensive destruction of religious sites: More than 700 churches, mosques, synagogues, and other religious buildings have been damaged or destroyed since the invasion began. These incidents frequently occur in Russian-occupied areas, suggesting a deliberate campaign rather than incidental damage.
• Clergy targeted and killed: As of February 2025, the U.S. State Department-backed International Religious Freedom or Belief Alliance reported Russian troops had killed 67 clergy members in Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. Other clergy members have been detained or forcibly disappeared. This is clear evidence of a deliberate campaign to dismantle religious leadership that resists Russian control.
• Ideological justification for repression: Leaders of the Russian Orthodox Church, including Patriarch Kirill, have publicly described the war as a “holy war,” providing ideological justification for suppressing religious groups that do not conform to Moscow’s authority.
• Accountability gap persists: Despite clear evidence of abuses, many perpetrators have not been held accountable. Without targeted sanctions and formal notification mechanisms, those responsible for religious persecution will continue to operate with impunity.

Congressional Press Releases

Read statements from members of Congress who are supporting this legislation:

• → Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC)