Yelensky explains whether UOC clergy will be exempt from military service

Yelensky discusses the exemption of UOC clergy with Kush. Photo: DESS's Facebook

Yelensky discusses the exemption of UOC clergy with Kush. Photo: DESS's Facebook

During the press conference "Freedom of Conscience in Ukraine: Its Enemies and Defenders", Viktor Yelensky responded to a question from DESS expert Oleksandr Sahan regarding which denominations' clergy would be exempted from conscription.

According to Yelensky, to qualify for exemption, a religious organization must have been registered before December 26, 2024, when the Cabinet of Ministers’ resolution on exemptions came into effect. He further stated that one of the criteria for granting exemptions to clergy of certain denominations would be "the absence of affiliation with a religious organization banned in Ukraine. Evidently, another criterion will be the validity of the organization’s name."

It is worth noting that, according to the authorities, the UOC does not meet either of the last two criteria. Based on a DESS analysis of the statutes of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC), the government considers the UOC to be part of the Moscow Patriarchate. Additionally, on December 27, 2022, the Constitutional Court ruled in favor of the legality of forcibly renaming the UOC.

Previously, the UOJ reported that, according to MP Oleksandr Dubinsky, exemptions would only be granted to UOC clergy who transition to the OCU.

Read also

After failed church seizure in Chernivtsi, Epifaniy accuses UOC of slander

Serhiy Dumenko published reflections that the UOC is in captivity of falsehood and therefore shows aggression towards the OCU.

Met. Longin to politicians: My children're at the front, and yours – abroad

The bishop noted that he and his family do not refuse to serve Ukraine but demand justice and protection from lawlessness.

UOC hierarch calls on Ukrainians to protect their shrines

Metropolitan Longin highlighted that the raiders had beaten laity and clergy of the UOC, including  Metropolitan Meletiy.

During seizure of Chernivtsi cathedral, OCU militants steal UAH 60,000

After beating and expelling UOC priests from the cathedral, the OCU raiders began searching for the church treasury.

During attempted seizure of Chernivtsi cathedral, OCU militants beat deacon

Raiders from the OCU beat a deacon and his son with a stick right on the solea of the cathedral.

TRC employees abduct UOC priest in Dnipropetrovsk region

At dawn, a cleric of the Kamianske Eparchy of the UOC was forcibly taken to the TRC and is being held without explanation.