Christian leaders have rejected President Vladimir Putin’s attempt to frame Russia’s war in Ukraine in spiritual terms, warning that the language distorts Christianity and risks legitimising violence.

During Orthodox Christmas celebrations this week, Mr Putin described Russian soldiers as “warriors” acting “as if at the Lord’s behest."

The remarks come as fighting continues into a fourth year and diplomatic efforts to explore peace remain fragile.

Orthodox and Catholic leaders say Christian teaching cannot be used to sanctify war. Father Myroslav Pushkaruk, a priest of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church serving in London, told The Independent: “Trying to do this with power and violence, which is not about love, not about Christian values, is more like the Anti-Christ in the Christian world.”

The criticism echoes wider theological opposition to Russia’s religious narrative.

The Ukrainian Orthodox Church has previously rejected so-called “Russian World” ideology. Church leaders insisted it wrongly presents Russia, Ukraine and Belarus as one sacred nation, and has been used to justify the war.

More than ninety church leaders also criticised the idea at a conference in Helsinki.

Beyond Ukraine, global Christian bodies have also spoken out. The World Council of Churches has repeatedly warned against the misuse of Christian theology to legitimise violence, urging churches to reject religious language that sanctifies war.

The Vatican has taken a similar position, with Pope Francis consistently rejecting the idea that any war can be considered holy, according to reporting by Reuters and Vatican News.

Former Bishop of Leeds, Nick Baines, said: “Seen from a Christian perspective, you don’t use unholy means to pursue a holy mission.”

Father Taras Khomych, a Ukrainian Greek Catholic priest and senior lecturer at Liverpool Hope University, said peace efforts must confront the beliefs driving the conflict.

“The war of Russian aggression started with the war of ideology,” he added.