The new law allows judges to ban the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which has links with the Moscow Patriarchate and is officially headed by the Patriarch Kirill.

Sergei Ryakhovsky is accused of “publicly supporting and justifying the Russian war”. 21 leaders of the Russian Orthodox Church are also sanctioned.

Patriarch Kirill defends Putin in what he calls a “fratricidal war”. Meanwhile, tens of thousands continue to leave Russia to avoid military mobilisation.

While the UK imposes sanctions on Patriarch Kirill for supporting the war in Ukraine, the World Council of Churches rejects a ban and hopes to see “dialogue and encounter”.

The Russian Orthodox leader, Patriarch Kirill, defines Russki Mir as a “special civilization which needs to be preserved”. He has become the main promoter of this nationalist idea.

“The Russian Orthodox Church works tirelessly to bring unity and to educate the younger generation in the spirit of patriotism”, Putin said.