OCU cleric who supported military recruitment centers served draft notice

Oleksii Filiuk. Photo: Filiuk’s Facebook

Popular OCU blogger Oleksii Filiuk reported that he had been handed a draft notice. He told his audience that he intends to go serve. According to him, the notice was given to him at the very square where the funeral of a fallen soldier had just taken place.

“That’s it, farewell my dear family, I’m going to defend Ukraine,” Filiuk said, showing the draft paper that instructs the cleric to appear at the recruitment center (RTsKK) in Lanivtsi on December 10.

In the comments, people pointed out that Filiuk himself understands perfectly well that he will not actually be taken into the army, and that he speaks about the draft notice with jokes and laughter.

“You know very well that you won’t go, otherwise you wouldn’t be so cheerful. Forgive me, but this is not good. People have no time for laughter, and you are walking away from a soldier’s funeral cracking jokes about getting a draft notice,” wrote Olha Kochmaryk.

She was supported by Myrosia Voronets, who added: “Someone who is truly going to the army does not rejoice like that! This is not a topic for jokes.”

“Father, this is a strange joke. I’m not a hater, but this time you’ve gone too far. Everyone understands that for you this is merely a formality you have to go through,” wrote Katia Tepliuk.

Earlier, Filiuk publicly supported the work of the military recruitment centers, stressing that what they do is not sinful.

According to him, it is simply a job like selling bread in a store, and “there is no sin in it.”

Filiuk also commented on draft dodgers: “Defending the Fatherland is your duty. Hiding is not normal,” the OCU blogger declared. Filyuk has four adopted children, two of whom are already adults.

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