Faith under siege: New film exposes Putin’s crackdown on Ukrainian Jews

Having tasted freedom after the fall of the Soviet Union, the Jewish community in Ukraine are now experiencing oppression and violence once again. A new documentary, A Faith Under Siege, has been released documenting Russia’s brutal crackdown on faith in Ukraine, the destruction of churches and the resilience of believers. An accompanying short, focusing specifically on the Ukrainian Jewish community, has also been released. 

Producers Colby Barrett and Steven Moore filled in more of the background behind the film in an interview with ALL ISRAEL NEWS. 

AIN: Tell me about the Jewish community in Ukraine - what was it like under the Soviet Union compared to times of freedom in Ukraine? 

Barrett: “After the Soviet takeover of Ukraine in 1922, religious and Zionist activities were forced underground… Religious practice was banned. Synagogues and community institutions were shuttered, and many people of faith were imprisoned for observing their religion.” 

Barrett referred to the history of the Ukrainian Jews as told by the World Jewish Congress. According to WJC, deviations from what was considered the Soviet “norm” were met with extreme consequences during the Stalinist repressions of the 1930s. This led to the suppression of Jewish and Ukrainian culture, the enforced replacement of the Ukrainian language with Russian, and the closure of Jewish institutions.

“During Soviet times, it was prohibited to practice religion. Many people were imprisoned for their faith, and they were disconnected from their roots,” Barrett continued. 

“After the fall of the Soviet Union, Jewish life was able to reemerge. Due to the fierce commitment of Ukraine’s Jewish leaders and backing from world Jewry, synagogues and Jewish schools reopened and cultural life was revived. In Free Ukraine, Jews can practice their faith freely. The most powerful symbol of Jewish renewal in Ukraine is that its people freely and democratically elected Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a proud Jew, as their president.” 

“In the 1990s, after the Soviet Union empire crashed, we could rebuild Jewish communities with the help of the Ukrainian government. We opened many Jewish institutions - kindergartens, schools, and community centers,” said Rabbi Moshe Azman, Chief Rabbi Of Ukraine, who features in the film.

“Ukraine was an open country. But now in the occupied territory, it is not safe for the Jewish community. It’s not safe for religion,” he added.

AIN: Why do you think Russia is targeting the Jewish community in particular? What is their motivation? 

Barrett: “Russia’s goal is simple: to dominate and subjugate Ukraine. Putin has targeted religious communities precisely because people of faith are harder to intimidate and subdue. We’ve seen the same playbook with Protestant Christians and Catholics. If Putin can’t control you, he’ll try to destroy you.” 

AIN: How do you understand the relationship between Netanyahu and Putin? 

Moore: “More important than Netanyahu’s relationship with Putin is Putin’s relationship with Hamas.  Hamas’ first international visit after the horrific October 7 attacks was to Moscow. As if to drive the point home, Putin hosted a summit in February of 2024 of all the Islamic extremist groups working together to end Israel’s existence.”

“They weren’t there to discuss hummus recipes. The only religious institution now standing in Mariupol is the mosque that Chechen warlord Ramzan Kadyrov rebuilt after brutally conquering the southern Ukrainian city. Israel and Ukraine are natural partners in the same battle against evil.”

“I have been in Ukraine since day 5 of the war. The only folks who have been here as long are Israeli and Jewish aid organizations. Just a few weeks ago, the media reported that Israel has sent Patriot missiles to Kyiv, which saves Ukrainian civilian lives.”

AIN: The video suggests Putin is supportive of Iran and by extension Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis, yet Netanyahu seems to be somewhat friendly towards Putin. What insight can you give regarding this apparent paradox? 

Moore: “Israel is in a tough neighborhood. Netanyahu’s first duty is to protect the safety and security of the Israeli people, and sometimes that requires diplomacy with Putin. While in a perfect world, Israel would have been providing missile defense systems to Ukraine, it has had to protect its own skies. With the Gaza war over, Hezoballah severely weakened, and Iran on its back foot, we’ll hopefully see closer Israel-Ukraine relations.”

“They are the two most battle tested democracies and can help the West defeat our adversaries.” 

AIN: What are your hopes for the project - what is the best outcome of exposing the suffering of Ukrainian Jews in this war with Russia?

Barrett: “Our goal is to shed light on the underreported realities of Putin’s war on Ukraine so Americans fully understand the crimes Russia is committing—and why they must be stopped. Russia’s war has destroyed Jewish life in occupied Ukraine. We want friends of the Jewish people in the United States to see what’s happening and be moved to act. That could mean contacting their representatives, praying for those in Ukraine, or simply sharing the truth with others. Every action counts.”

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