---
title: "Church, TikTok, and Fakes: How Russia Builds a System of Influence over Ukrainians in Europe"
description: "Ukrainian experts have revealed a massive network of Russian hybrid influence in the EU. The ROC and digital propaganda have become the main tools of pressure on refugees, adapting to every age group — from TikTok for the youth to the church for the older generation. 🇺🇦🚫📉"
date: 2026-06-18T16:20:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/church-tiktok-fakes-russia-influence-ukrainians-europe
tags: []
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Church, TikTok, and Fakes: How Russia Builds a System of Influence over Ukrainians in Europe

![Ukrainian children and adults with Ukrainian flags at a rally in Europe, symbolizing resistance to Russian influence](https://xab.info/media/2026/06/18/rossiya-vliyanie-ukrainskie-bezhentsy-yes-issledovanie/rossiya-vliyanie-ukrainskie-bezhentsy-yes-issledovanie-1.webp)

Ukrainian refugees and communities in European Union countries have become the focus of a new intelligence threat. According to data from a recent sociological study, Russia has created an extensive hybrid influence system in Europe covering religious, informational, cultural, and political spheres. Experts from the Institute of National Resilience and Security (NU "INUB") concluded that these channels do not work in isolation but function as a single network, mutually reinforcing the propaganda effect.

### The Church Channel as the Core of the System

A key finding of the study is the role of the religious factor. The Director of INUB, Professor Rena Marutyants of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, asserts that the structural core of the entire network is the church channel. It is precisely this channel that unites spheres vital for refugees, such as education, legal aid, and psychological support.

The situation is exacerbated by canonical restrictions. According to Marutyants, due to the conditions of the Tomos, the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) cannot create its own network in other countries. As a result, a significant portion of displaced persons seeking support turn to parishes of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC).

In such communities, people are offered consultations from priests, as well as legal and translation assistance. However, researchers note a worrying fact: often, under Ukrainian signage, citizens of the Russian Federation operate. Sociologist Kateryna Nastayncha describes this phenomenon as a "normalized paradox": people understand they are dealing with a hostile structure, but consciously separate religion from politics, continuing to attend services.

### Digital War: From Telegram to TikTok

Alongside "traditional" methods, Russia actively uses digital disinformation, which is recognized as the fastest and most extensive channel of influence. Ukrainians abroad often use Telegram channels as their primary news source, making them easy targets for information campaigns.

Statistics confirm the escalation: in 2024–2026, 77 information operations by the Russian propaganda group Storm-1516 were recorded, 35 of which were directed directly against Ukraine. In the first quarter of 2026, the number of disinformation narratives practically doubled compared to the same period last year.

### Targeted Attack on Different Generations

Researchers emphasize that there is no universal model of influence. Russia adapts its tools to specific age and social groups:

- **Young people under 25:** The main channel is TikTok, memes, and gaming content. Through them, depoliticized messages like "everyone is the same" or "politics is dirty" are spread. Young men in social isolation are recognized as the most vulnerable group.

- **Women of middle age:** Influence is exerted through children's circles, parent chats, and psychological training. Notably, this category demonstrates the highest level of resistance to propaganda.

- **Men of middle age:** They are pushed the thesis that "Ukraine does not value its citizens," exploiting themes of mobilization and professional underachievement abroad.

- **Older people:** The main tools remain television, church communities, and nostalgic stories about a "shared past".

### Geography of Influence: Italy, Germany, and France

Analysis showed that the most powerful influence network operates in Italy. There, 75 to 85 parishes of the Russian Orthodox Church function, actively supported by cultural and educational projects.

In Germany and France, the strategy shifts towards digital operations and information campaigns. At the same time, one of the largest networks of ROC parishes also operates in Germany. Collectively, these tools form a complex ecosystem aimed at changing the consciousness of the Ukrainian diaspora in Europe.