'Lucy Ash has written a spellbinding book that will help you to understand how the Russian Orthodox Church became a vital force in Putin's existential war against Ukraine. This book is pure intellectual jazz, mixing the author's personal experience - starting from her first visits to the USSR in 1970s - with breath-taking analysis of Russia's convoluted religious history.' Andrei Kurkov, author of Death and the Penguin

'Lucy Ash, a seasoned and sympathetic watcher of Russia, wrote a compelling and much needed book of how the centuries-old union between the state and the Church poisoned Russian society.' Andrei Soldatov, co-author of The Compatriots

'I loved The Baton and the Cross - an engaging, well-informed and pacy survey of the profound but often overlooked impact of the Russian Orthodox Church on the formation of Putin's imperial ideology, which led 'Holy Russia' into war against Ukraine and the West. A timely and important book.' Orlando Figes, author of A People’s Tragedy: The Russian Revolution

'An essential guide to understanding the often apparently contradictory and tangled truth about the Russian Orthodox Church and its political leverage, this book combines a clear historical survey with unique first-hand insight and granular analysis from the author's long experience as a journalist with specialist knowledge of Russia. It is a reliable, judicious, and deeply sobering analysis of one of the moral open sores of our world.' Rt. Revd. and Rt. Hon. Dr Rowan Williams, former Archbishop of Canterbury

'In her thoroughly researched and beautifully written book Lucy Ash insist that if we want to grasp Putin's Russia, we should focus not on the transformation of the state, but on the transformation of the Church.' Ivan Krastev, co-author of The Light that Failed: A Reckoning

'From the first page of The Baton and the Cross, fascinating fact after fact tumble out of this elegantly written book. Switching effortlessly between the Russian Orthodox Church's long history and disturbing present, Lucy Ash provides us with the definitive explanation of how the truly Unholy Alliance between Patriarch Kirill and Vladimir Putin was cemented with the blood of Ukraine.' Misha Glenny, author of McMafia: Seriously Organised Crime

'Her story is a painfully critical reflection of events in Russia today. Easily accessible and beautifully constructed, the book is essential reading for anyone looking to better understand Putin's motivations around his war in Ukraine.' Marina Litvinenko

'If you want to understand why Putin thinks and acts as he does, then read this. By combining historical detail with first-hand reporting, Lucy Ash shows the hold that the Orthodox Church has over Russian power - now and in centuries past. Her erudition is leavened by her accessible style; this highly readable account casts a light onto a crucial but neglected aspect of Russian culture and politics.' Lindsey Hilsum, International Editor, Channel 4 News

'History at its best - elegantly written, rigorously researched. A wonderful weave of politics, piety, and Ash's personal journey.' Lyse Doucet, BBC Chief International Correspondent

'An excellent introduction to the subject.' Antony Beevor, author of Russia: Revolution and Civil War 1917-1921