Court overturns illegal mobilization of UOC clergyman

Deacon Viktor Pyshta and Archpriest Mykyta Chekman. Photo: video screenshot from Fr. Mykyta

Human rights defenders have succeeded in having the illegal mobilization and military service of a clergyman from the Kyiv Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), Deacon Viktor Pyshta, officially overturned. This was announced on June 9, 2025, by UOC attorney Archpriest Mykyta Chekman.

The Territorial Recruitment Center (TRC) illegally mobilized Fr. Viktor in late 2024. He served in the Armed Forces of Ukraine for six months, despite being officially reserved from conscription.

"Fr. Viktor approached us in December 2024. Our legal bureau prepared all procedural documents, filed a lawsuit, and on January 28, 2025, the Zakarpattia District Administrative Court fully upheld our claims," the attorney explained.

According to him, the mobilization was declared unlawful, and the military unit was ordered to release the cleric from service. However, the unit continued to unlawfully detain Fr. Viktor.

Human rights lawyers continued to fight for the UOC cleric, even initiating a criminal case for failure to comply with the court ruling.

Eventually, the clergyman was released. The military unit's appeal was dismissed.

Deacon Viktor expressed gratitude to his legal defenders for their work and to all the faithful for their prayers.

Archpriest Mykyta Chekman believes this case sets an important precedent for the protection of reserved persons subject to conscription:
"This shows that rights must be defended, one must never give up – and if God is with us, who can be against us?"

As previously reported by the UOJ, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine published a list of parishes whose clergy will be granted reservation from mobilization.

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