When Russian President Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine nine months ago, he claimed to be rooting out Nazis who had taken control of the Ukrainian government. Recently, at least according to several Russian news outlets, Putin is now fighting a new enemy in Ukraine: Satan.  

In fact, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church has officially appointed Putin the country’s “Chief Exorcist,” and claims that Ukraine is full of hundreds of sects of the Church of Satan. 

The Russian Orthodox Church is complicit in Putin casting himself as fighting against Satan rather than for him, hoping to capitalize on ignorance. Powerful men often go to great lengths to justify their evil by calling it good, but it is always an evil and blasphemous thing when they do. 

In the kingdom of God, a person’s heart is revealed by his or her fruit, not merely his or her words.