Volyn priests of UOC receive draft notices from Kyiv, bypassing local TRC

Servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Illustrative photo. Photo: zn.ua

On July 9, 2025, Deacon of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Andriy Hlushchenko published a message on a Telegram channel from one of the UOC priests, who reported that he received a draft notice not from the local Territorial Recruitment Center (TRC) but directly from Kyiv.

The posted message includes the words of one of the UOC clergy serving in Volyn, who is being attempted to be mobilized. The priest said that he received a draft notice by mail and arrived at the TRC. There he was told that "the summons did not come from the district but from Kyiv," and was advised to urgently arrange a deferment, "because they will mobilize".

"I remembered seeing publications that the Chaplaincy Service at the Ministry of Defense sends draft notices to UOC priests. It turns out it's true…," the cleric noted.

According to Andriy Hlushchenko, this message appeared in one of the closed channels, the name of which is not disclosed for security reasons. However, the content of the publication, according to him, confirms previously received information that attempts at forced mobilization of clergy are coordinated centrally – from Kyiv.

Screenshot of the message published on July 9, 2025, in which a UOC priest from Volyn reports that he received a summons not from the district TRC, but directly from Kyiv.

The UOC has repeatedly stated that the mobilization of clergy, especially targeted towards the UOC, bears signs of religious discrimination.

Earlier, the UOJ reported on the words of former MP Novynskyi that the authorities specifically mobilize priests to destroy the UOC.

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