The chief military priest of the Russian Orthodox Church in the area of the "special military operation," Protopriest Dmitry Vasilenko, stated that "the most effective and strongest warriors are those motivated by religious beliefs." This was reported by the Telegram channel Christians Against War.

"The responsibility for training such warriors lies with the priests, and the presence of these warriors is crucial for both victory and the well-being of society. To achieve concrete results in this area, we, as priests, need the support of all interested parties, including both authorities and the general public. This must become our top priority. We want to win, and that requires us to cultivate warriors who are prepared for battle. Training is essential; one doesn’t simply become a warrior without it. Mobilizing a crowd, supplying them with weapons, and sending them to war doesn’t guarantee success. They must be trained and motivated, which is the primary task we are focusing on, particularly through military education."

Protopriest Dimitry Vasilenkov serves as the chief military chaplain, providing support to servicemen of the Russian Armed Forces and personnel from other law enforcement agencies in the “SVO” zone. He has undertaken more than 60 trips to conflict areas where Russian forces have been active, including Syria, Georgia, Donbas, and the North Caucasus. Additionally, he participated in the annexation of the Crimean Peninsula.

Earlier, Dmitry Vasilenko stated that he sees no point in meeting with Ukrainian prisoners. (Quelle: www.risu.ua, 15. Juli 2025)