https://sputnikglobe.com/20260824/priests-of-ukrainian-orthodox-church-face-forced-mobilization--russian-foreign-ministry--1124624737.html
Priests of Ukrainian Orthodox Church Face Forced Mobilization — Russian Foreign Ministry
Priests of Ukrainian Orthodox Church Face Forced Mobilization — Russian Foreign Ministry
Sputnik International
The forced mobilization of Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) clergy has intensified since 2025, with recruitment centers allegedly pressuring priests, extorting money, and ignoring legal exemptions, according to a Russian Foreign Ministry report.
2026-08-24T16:39+0000
2026-08-24T16:39+0000
2026-08-24T16:39+0000
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The territorial recruitment centers (TCCs) have confiscated phones, used violence, and destroyed documents submitted by clergy seeking deferments due to disability, large families, or dependent relatives, the report notes. Moreover, mobilization notices are being issued centrally from Kiev, and failure to appear can result in priests being placed on a wanted list. According to the report, hundreds of UOC priests have been forcibly mobilized or are currently serving in the Ukrainian military, with some facing intimidation after attempting to defend their rights.The report also said that Ukrainian authorities use pressure against the Ukrainian Orthodox Church while supporting the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU).The OCU is made up largely of figures who were previously denied positions within the UOC due to actions incompatible with priestly duties, as well as individuals cooperating with nationalist armed groups.The ministry said that the dispute within Ukrainian Orthodoxy has gone beyond church issues and has been accompanied by politically motivated pressure, including raids on churches, community re-registration and attacks on clergy and believers.According to the report, Ukrainian authorities indirectly support these actions while allowing radical groups to participate in confrontations with UOC communities.
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Priests of Ukrainian Orthodox Church Face Forced Mobilization — Russian Foreign Ministry
The forced mobilization of Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) clergy has intensified since 2025, with recruitment centers allegedly pressuring priests, extorting money, and ignoring legal exemptions, according to a Russian Foreign Ministry report.
The territorial recruitment centers (TCCs) have confiscated phones, used violence, and destroyed documents submitted by clergy seeking deferments due to disability, large families, or dependent relatives, the report notes. Moreover, mobilization notices are being issued centrally from Kiev, and failure to appear can result in priests being placed on a wanted list.
According to the report, hundreds of UOC priests have been forcibly mobilized or are currently serving in the Ukrainian military, with some facing intimidation after attempting to defend their rights.
The report also said that Ukrainian authorities use pressure against the
Ukrainian Orthodox Church while supporting the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU).
The OCU is made up largely of figures who were previously denied positions within the UOC due to actions incompatible with priestly duties, as well as individuals cooperating with nationalist armed groups.
The ministry said that the dispute within Ukrainian Orthodoxy has gone beyond church issues and has been accompanied by politically motivated pressure, including raids on churches, community re-registration and attacks on clergy and believers.
According to the report, Ukrainian authorities indirectly support these actions while allowing radical groups to participate in confrontations with UOC communities.
15 August 2023, 06:34 GMT
