Socialists always stand for revolutionary defeatism. You should always want your country to lose in it’s imperial pursuits. Getting into the weeds is a distraction and it’s fueled by capitalist propaganda. As a United States subject I am always on the side of the United States defeat.

First, I am equally under the thumb of the United States Bourgeoisie. For me to ever be personally free they must be defeated.

Second, I know the character of the United States. I’m not a child. I’ve seen the history of United States foreign involvement, and without knowing any facts can assume that whatever the United States is currently doing in Ukraine is aligned with all of it’s other foreign adventures. How many times should you allow yourself to be fooled?

Capitalism and Imperialism are tied hand in glove. After Capitalism develops as far as it can within it’s own borders the national bourgeoisie seek to apply the principles of capitalism to other nations. This is imperialism.

This is what the United States was doing in Ukraine and the Russian response was predicted by just about everyone of importance. Oliver Stone is a great film maker. He foresaw and documents this crisis well before it was on anyone’s minds. If you are interested in the conflict I highly recommend you watching Ukraine on Fire. https://rumble.com/vwxxi8-ukraine-on-fire.html

As far as religion is concerned, there have been some historical conflicts between religion and notable revolutions. Most importantly, the French Revolution, which was of course not socialist. The Religious institutions supported the Monarchy. The Divine right to rule comes out of support from the Church. The Church was also a cooperative element in the exploitation and oppression of peasants and serfs. It wasn’t necessarily religion as a philosophy that the French Revolution had a problem with. It was the material institutions which had been harming them and were at that moment fighting against them. The same was true for the Russian Revolution. Remember that Russia at the time of the revolution was a feudal nation ruled by the Czars as well as the Orthodox Church.

To call Communism anti religious would be similar to calling Modernity itself anti religious. Both revolutions had to fight violently against the Church. Protestantism had to fight similarly during the Protestant Reformations. The Church during these times were political institutions with a lot of power. You’re already aware of many examples of the Church demonstrating it’s power. If the Church and State are joined, it’s impossible to wage a revolution against one and not the other. So that is the historical background to your question on religion.