In Chernihiv, Jehovah’s Witness believer sentenced to 5 years for AWOL
Court. Illustrative photo: open sources
On February 17, 2026, a court in Chernihiv Region sentenced a man to five years in prison for unauthorized departure from a military unit. This is stated in the verdict of the Kozelets District Court.
According to the case materials, on February 12, 2025, the man was drafted into military service and assigned as a cadet to a training course at the Air Defense Specialists School of the Ground Forces. On February 15, he left the unit without permission and remained absent until March 26. He was detained on March 27.
During the trial, the defendant did not admit guilt. He explained that since childhood he has been one of Jehovah’s Witnesses and, due to his religious beliefs, cannot be involved in military service, wear a uniform, or take up arms. He stated that he had requested to replace military service with alternative civilian service and had expressed readiness to serve the state in another capacity.
The court noted that during mobilization and under martial law, alternative service is not предусмотрено. The verdict also cites the position of the Supreme Court, according to which mobilization does not necessarily mean mandatory participation in combat – a serviceman may perform duties not related to the use of weapons. The man was found guilty under Part 5, Article 407 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The verdict may be appealed within 30 days.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that in Odesa Region, a Jehovah’s witness was sentenced to three years for evading service.
Read also
MinCulture opens Lavra's Near Caves only for groups and by reservation
The Ministry of Culture's statement says that "the opening of the Near Caves for believers is not only a long-awaited and outstanding event in church life but also a sign of the indestructibility of our faith".
Metropolitan Onuphry reads Great Canon at Intercession Convent of Kyiv
The Primate of the UOC led the Great Compline with the reading of the second part of the Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete at the capital's Intercesssion Convent.
OCU “hierarch” selling fake ID documents sent to pre-trial detention center
The Ivano-Frankivsk court has chosen a preventive measure for the OCU "bishop" suspected of issuing fictitious ordination certificates for the rank of deacon to evade mobilization.
Court postpones hearing in Upper Lavra case
The next hearing on the issue of allowing the brethren of the Kyiv-Pechersk Monastery of the UOC access to the churches of the Upper Lavra will take place on March 12, 2026.
In Chernihiv, Jehovah’s Witness believer sentenced to 5 years for AWOL
The Kozelets District Court of Chernihiv Region found the man guilty of unauthorized abandonment of a military unit and sentenced him to five years’ imprisonment.
DESS initiates lawsuit to liquidate Korets Monastery
The State Service of Ukraine for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience (DESS) is seeking the liquidation of the Holy Trinity Korets Convent of the UOC.