Russia is hardly a deeply Christian country. 8% of Russians go to church on a regular bases. In the US it is 41%. The Soviet Union was hard on religion. There are believers, but most Russians are just members of the church, but really do not care too much.Also North Korea does not care that much. They send soldiers to Syria and Syria is much more religious and Iran who is deeply involved in this even more so.

[–] Buffalox@lemmy.world 2 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

If it is a PR stunt it is dumb.

I think the idea is to show a further escalation, supporting the Russian narrative of a possible WW3.

Russia is hardly a deeply Christian country.

Russia has absolutely turned to Christianity a lot since 1991, even if they don't go to church. Putin has positioned FSB agents in the Russian Orthodox Church, and it's a key component of Russian state propaganda.

[–] bluGill@fedia.io 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

That seems to be the government using the form of christianity, but it doesn't seem to be something people really care about.

[–] Buffalox@lemmy.world 0 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

It absolutely is, people have clearly reacted according to the propaganda on for instance anti LGBT issues.
Ukraine too is widely Christian, but they have banned the Russian Orthodox Church, exactly because it's an arm of Russian propaganda.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity_in_Russia

Christianity was the religious self-identification of 47.1% of the Russian population in 2012.