DESS discusses mobilization of clergy with UCCRO

Viktor Yelensky with representatives of the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations. Photo: Facebook page of the State Service for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience

On April 3, the leadership of DESS held a working meeting with representatives of the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations, DESS reported on its Facebook page. The participants discussed relations between the state and religious confessions, as well as the social work of religious communities during wartime. The main topic of the meeting was implementation of the Cabinet of Ministers resolution on reserving clergy liable for military service.

Viktor Yelensky informed the Council about a new order issued by the agency on April 1, 2026, which changes the procedure for granting deferrals to clergy. Religious organizations may now reserve clergymen from “critically important religious organizations” who have traveled abroad on official assignments.

The deferral applies to clerics who conduct services or preach abroad and are registered with a Ukrainian consulate. DESS says this will help ensure ongoing spiritual care for Ukrainian refugees.

Recall that DESS did not include UOC clerics on the lists for reservation from mobilization. Viacheslav Gorshkov, head of the agency’s department for religious affairs, explained that this is due to the provisions of Law No. 2662-VIII on the renaming of churches whose governing center is located in an aggressor state. According to the official, for the UOC to submit lists for deferral, it must comply with the requirements of that law, which in effect means acknowledging ties to the ROC.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that DESS had announced a new stage in the reservation of clergy from mobilization.

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