Andis Kudors was an executive director of the Centre for East European Policy Studies (2006–2019). His research interests include Russian compatriot policy, sharp power, propaganda, disinformation, Russian Orthodoxy, and informational warfare. Kudors is an author of many analytical articles about Russian foreign policy and Latvian security. He was Fulbright Scholar at the Kennan Institute, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington DC, USA (2014–2015) and Visiting Scholar at the Institute for European, Russian and Eurasian Studies (Elliott School of International Affairs, George Washington University) (2021–2022). In 2021 Andis Kudors was appointed Commander of The Cross of Recognition by the President of the Republic of Latvia Egils Levits for his contribution to the research of Latvian national security. Andis Kudors is author of the book Russia and Latvia: A Case of Sharp Power, Routledge, London, 2024.

• Introduction 1. Fight for Hearts and Minds During Wartime: A Theory 2. Faith Diplomacy’s Aim: ‘Peace’ or ‘Victory’ 3. ROC’s Goals, Communication Channels and Audience in Ukraine 4. The ‘Russian World’ and ‘Dialogue among Civilizations’ 5. Annexation of Crimea as A Reunification of ‘Russian World' 6.Sacralization of War in Donbas: ‘Angels’ vs ‘Demons’ 7.Moscow Patriarchate’s Support for Cossacks and Criminals 8.Patriarch Kirill, priest Andrei Tkachev, and Full Scale Invasion in 2022 9. The Voice of the Orthodox Opposition: Not on My Behalf! 10.The Potential of Impact Conclusions

Andis Kudors was an executive director of the Centre for East European Policy Studies (2006–2019). His research interests include Russian compatriot policy, sharp power, propaganda, disinformation, Russian Orthodoxy, and informational warfare. Kudors is an author of many analytical articles about Russian foreign policy and Latvian security. He was Fulbright Scholar at the Kennan Institute, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington DC, USA (2014–2015) and Visiting Scholar at the Institute for European, Russian and Eurasian Studies (Elliott School of International Affairs, George Washington University) (2021–2022). In 2021 Andis Kudors was appointed Commander of The Cross of Recognition by the President of the Republic of Latvia Egils Levits for his contribution to the research of Latvian national security. Andis Kudors is author of the book Russia and Latvia: A Case of Sharp Power, Routledge, London, 2024.

• Introduction 1. Fight for Hearts and Minds During Wartime: A Theory 2. Faith Diplomacy’s Aim: ‘Peace’ or ‘Victory’ 3. ROC’s Goals, Communication Channels and Audience in Ukraine 4. The ‘Russian World’ and ‘Dialogue among Civilizations’ 5. Annexation of Crimea as A Reunification of ‘Russian World' 6.Sacralization of War in Donbas: ‘Angels’ vs ‘Demons’ 7.Moscow Patriarchate’s Support for Cossacks and Criminals 8.Patriarch Kirill, priest Andrei Tkachev, and Full Scale Invasion in 2022 9. The Voice of the Orthodox Opposition: Not on My Behalf! 10.The Potential of Impact Conclusions