ReligionsinUkraineinstatsandfacts

The religious landscape of Ukraine is quite diverse, with Muslims, Jews, and other groups among the predominantly Christian population.

This diversity has been formed historically and continues to develop in Ukraine as citizens have the freedom of thought and religious belief.

Today, representatives of different faiths and those who do not consider themselves as such continue to work together toward a common goal – repelling Russia’s invasion and restoring long-lasting peace. 

As of March 2024, Russia has destroyed 630 religious buildings in Ukraine and continues to destroy them every day, which once again shows that Russians believe only in force.

Christianity in Ukraine: from Kyivan Rus’ to the present

According to the annual International Religious Freedom Report, 62.7% of Ukrainians identify as Orthodox Christians, 10.2% as Greek Catholics, 3.7% as Protestants, 1.9% as Roman Catholics, and 8.7% as “just Christians.” 

Ukraine inherited Christianity from its ancestor Kyivan Rus’, which adopted a mono-religion in 988. At that time, this was a civilizational decision that impeded the development of culture and education, building diplomatic ties with other countries, and representation in the international arena as a developed state.

Before that, the residents of Kyivan Rus professed paganism. Christianity helped to establish relations with Europe and unite the tribes that inhabited the territory of Kyivan Rus. 

Within 100 years from adopting Christianity, Kyivan Rus‘ created some of the most beautiful artistic and architectural monuments of medieval Christianity in Europe, such as the St. Sophia Cathedral and the church-monastery complex of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra. Both sites are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List today.

Given that the majority of the population professes Christianity, most Ukrainian traditions are associated with this religion, including the celebration of Christmas and Easter. 

Islam in Ukraine

The Muslim community in Ukraine ranges from several hundred thousand citizens to 2 million. As of 2010, 0.9% of Ukrainians professed Islam. It is currently impossible to calculate the exact number, as most Muslims live in the east of Ukraine or Crimea, areas that have been under Russian attack and temporary occupation since 2014.

Sunni Islam predominates in Ukraine overall.

The largest Muslim community in Ukraine is the Crimean Tatars, an indigenous people who historically formed and lived on the Crimean peninsula. However, Ukraine also has other communities: Volga Tatars, Turks, people from Central Asia, the North Caucasus, Azerbaijan, and Arab countries who have embraced Islam and become part of the Ukrainian population, as well as those who have converted to Islam.

Judaism in Ukraine

The Jewish is one of the oldest communities living in Ukraine. Most Ukrainian Jews are descendants of one of the largest sub-ethnicities of the Jewish people, the Ashkenazi.

The Association of Jewish Organizations and Communities (VAAD) states there are approximately 300,000 persons of Jewish ancestry in the country. According to VAAD, before the Russian military aggression in Ukraine in 2014, approximately 30,000 Jews lived in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

In particular, another indigenous people of Ukraine, the Krymchaks, profess Orthodox Judaism but with their own prayer rituals. The exact number of representatives is currently impossible to state exactly, as most live in the temporarily occupied Crimea. However, as of 2001, there were 406 Krymchaks in Ukraine.

Other religions in Ukraine

Ukraine also has a small number of Buddhists, Hindus, Falun Gong practitioners, Baha’is, and supporters of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness.

Also, as of 2022, there are 6% of the population identify as atheists in Ukraine.

Diversity is the key to unity

Ukraine has historically been a multicultural and multi-religious state. Its territory has been home to Ukrainians, Crimean Tatars, Krymchaks, Karaims, and many national communities each with its own religion, culture, and traditions.

Ukraine guarantees freedom of religion and expression for all, as evidenced by the large number of Christian churches, mosques, synagogues, and other religious centers. Among the soldiers who are now defending Ukraine are representatives of different faiths.

Despite their differences, people in Ukraine are united by a common desire for victory and a world of peace for future generations. This consolidating factor allows us to learn from each other, discover new cultures, and be understood in every part of the world.

Ukraine is a free country in which every citizen can choose for themselves. 

And it works.