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“I imagine the reason they ‘want’ to believe that is because putin ‘claims’ to be Christian and they fall for it.”

Putin’s main audience is the Russian peoples. The old babushkas love his displays of religiosity. All dumb Rooskies fall for it. These displays gives Vlad cover for invading Ukraine and his other evils.

The head of Roooskie Orthodox Church is ex-KGB and is probably still linked to Putin’s security apparatus.
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Answer
Yes, the current head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, has ties to the KGB, the former Soviet intelligence agency.
KGB Background

Patriarch Kirill, whose secular name is Vladimir Mikhailovich Gundyayev, worked for Soviet intelligence while living in Switzerland in the 1970s25. According to declassified Swiss police files, he operated under the code name “Mikhailov” while officially serving as a representative of the Russian Orthodox Church at the World Council of Churches in Geneva258.

Mission and Influence
His primary task was to influence the World Council of Churches on behalf of Soviet interests58. The objectives included:
Pushing the organization to denounce the United States and its allies
Toning down criticism of the lack of religious freedoms in the Soviet Union

Rise to Power
After returning to the Soviet Union, Kirill quickly advanced through the church hierarchy11. He became Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus’ in 2009, making him the head of the Russian Orthodox Church9.

Current Role and Controversy
As Patriarch, Kirill has maintained close ties with the Kremlin and has been a strong supporter of President Vladimir Putin1114
. He has endorsed Putin’s policies and has even supported Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which has led to criticism and controversy within the Orthodox Christian community14
18.

Kirill’s past involvement with the KGB and his current political stance have made him a controversial figure, both within Russia and internationally14
18.