Greek media highlight cases of forced mobilization of UOC priests

Illustration of forced mobilization of UOC clergy. Photo: open sources

On May 4, 2026, the Greek church outlet Romfea reported cases of Ukrainian Orthodox Church clergy being forcibly mobilized into the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The publication notes that despite existing legal provisions allowing exemptions or alternative forms of service for clergy, officers of territorial recruitment centers continue to forcibly conscript priests. According to the outlet, such cases are systemic and accompanied by human rights violations.

In particular, the outlet drew attention to the May 1 detention in Kyiv of Archimandrite Theophil (Kosovenko), a monk of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. The cleric was stopped by TRC officers on Lesia Ukrainka Boulevard while on his way to provide spiritual assistance to a parishioner.

Another incident occurred in the Zhytomyr region, in the village of Novi Horobtsi, where physical force and pepper spray were used during the detention of a priest. According to eyewitnesses, it took him several hours to recover.

The outlet stresses that such practices contradict current legislation and have caused concern among the faithful, who regard these actions as a violation of religious rights and an affront to the dignity of clergy.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that in the Zhytomyr region, police detained a UOC monk and handed him over to the TRC.

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