Vladimir Putin has faced allegations of utilizing nuns as an unconventional tool against Europe following the exposure of a convent operating secretly under the Kremlin’s direction.
Startling images depict a nun garbed in traditional attire holding a Russian flag bearing a ‘Z’ emblem associated with endorsing the deadly incursion into Ukraine. The St Elisabeth Orthodox convent, originally from Belarus, was discovered to be active in more than 20 churches in Sweden, where they engaged in fundraising activities and sold religious mementos. Authorities suspect that the earnings were channeled to aid Russian military units on the front lines.
In one instance, the nuns were identified selling handmade crafts, wooden icons, and knitted goods in Täby, a suburb of Stockholm, having been invited by an unwitting local vicar. A church linked to the closely affiliated Kazan Icon of the Mother of God was constructed near Stockholm Vasteras airport, noted for its ‘strategic importance’ to NATO.
Previously barred from visiting Winchester Cathedral in 2022 due to their pro-war stance, the sisters have prompted warnings to Catholic and Orthodox communities in Sweden to refrain from any cooperation with the St Elisabeth convent and to report any suspicious activities to the authorities.
Kristina Smith, leading the crisis planning group for the Church of Sweden, disclosed attempts by the Russian Orthodox Church to secure premises near military installations, characterizing the situation as a “rude awakening” for Sweden. She highlighted the novelty of Sweden being thrust into a conflict following the 2022 invasion, challenging the nation’s self-perception of neutrality and peacefulness.
Recent reports indicate a nun from the convent visited occupied areas in Ukraine to uplift the spirits of Russian troops, with a photograph showing her standing next to a tank alongside a smiling soldier. This development comes in the wake of another convent being banned from the EU Schengen area for aiding Russian forces.
An inquiry revealed that nuns associated with the Narva diocese of the Estonian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate had been involved in fictitious contracts to raise funds for procurement of strike drones, Starlink equipment, and specialized military gear, prompting further scrutiny into the convent’s activities.