Unconventional Spiritual Practices in the Wartime Ukraine and Russia

• In Event: War, Demographics, and Militarization: Discursive Strategies and Socioeconomic Consequences of Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine

Abstract

This paper explores the growing popularity of fortune-telling and esoteric practices in Russia and Ukraine, where war has fueled demand for mystical services. In Russia, the occult industry has become a multi-billion-dollar sector, with authorities both tolerating and regulating its influence. In Ukraine, the government remains cautious, wary of its potential to spread misinformation. The rise of esoteric beliefs reflects broader trends of individualism, escapism, and skepticism toward institutions, shaped by distinct political contexts

Author

• Dinissa Duvanova, Lehigh U