The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has initiated an inspection at the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC MP) monastery in Holosiiv following reports about an underground school there promoting the ideology of the so-called 'Russian World'.
According to Vitaliy Portnikov, the existence of such a school and the choice of some parents to educate their children following Soviet-style programs reflect social inertia despite the ongoing war. Yet, this also indicates a decrease in the spread of Russian ideological narratives compared to the pre-2014 period when Russian and Soviet propaganda was widespread in Ukrainian society.
After 2014, many pro-Russian media outlets disappeared, but new ones emerged, sponsored by Russian-affiliated individuals. The education system also retained a Soviet approach for many years. However, the scale of such influence in Ukraine has drastically decreased, as isolated cases now demonstrate.
War does not instantly change identity; it often deepens convictions and prompts searches for those to blame. Russian propaganda continues its efforts to place responsibility for the war on Ukrainian authorities. The experience of 2019 showed that some Ukrainians were influenced by these narratives.
Portnikov notes that future challenges will arise as Ukraine faces either a prolonged war or its conclusion, with Russian influence likely shifting to the political and economic spheres through pragmatic Western actors. The continued presence of the UOC MP as a Kremlin-linked institution remains a civilizational risk.
Evolutionary changes in Ukraine's national identity are only possible through deliberate education and media policy. With the right approach, the number of people sympathetic to pro-Russian ideology will decrease over time.
