The Destruction of Religious Institutions as a Tool of Sovietization of Western Ukrainian Territories (1939–1941)

Abstract

The article examines the policy of Sovietization of western Ukrainian lands in 1939–1941, which involved a profound transformation of the region’s social and cultural environment. One of the main objectives of this policy was the destruction of religious structures. After these territories became part of the USSR, the Soviet authorities resorted to targeted measures to weaken the influence of the church and the spiritual foundations of the local population. This process involved widespread repressive actions, administrative pressure, and a large-scale propaganda campaign designed to create a negative perception of the church as an enemy of socialist ideology. The purpose of this article is to analyze the policy of Sovietization in Western Ukraine in 1939–1941 through the prism of the destruction of religious institutions as a mechanism of profound social transformation that contributed to the undermining of the cultural and spiritual identity of the population and the weakening of national movements. This policy became part of a broader strategy of state power, which encompassed not only economic and social reforms, but also cultural and ideological struggle. The following methods were used in the study: historical-analytical, documentary, and contextual analysis to reconstruct the Soviet state’s policy toward the church and the clergy. The results of the study prove that the Soviet authorities used administrative pressure, repression, and an information campaign to eliminate the church structure and discredit the clergy. The article reveals the methods used to discredit the church, which was portrayed as an “enemy of the people”, and priests as traitors and enemies of the socialist system. Particular attention is paid to the propaganda accompanying this campaign, in particular newspaper publications, public lectures, and propaganda materials. The conclusions indicate that the destruction of religious institutions in Western Ukraine was an important part of Sovietization, aimed at forming a “new man” loyal to the socialist regime. Anti-religious propaganda and repression caused significant changes in the spiritual life of the population, although they failed to completely destroy religious practices and the importance of the church for some citizens. This process had lasting consequences for the cultural identity of the region, which were felt for decades to come.