DESS explains why it denies UOC clergy mobilization deferments

V. Voynalovych. Photo: DESS

The Ukrainian Orthodox Church does not receive mobilization deferments for its clergy because its religious organizations are not included in the list of entities critical to the economy and the vital needs of the population. This was stated by DESS First Deputy Head Viktor Voynalovych in a comment to Suspilne Khmelnytskyi.

According to him, only organizations whose statutes have not lost legal force may be included in the list of critical entities. In the state’s view, the statutes of UOC structures do not fall into this category, since the authorities believe the UOC was required to change its official name: in 2018, a law came into force obliging organizations whose governing center is located in an aggressor state to indicate this in their name. The deadline set by law – four months for organizations and nine months for communities – was not met by the UOC.

As the UOJ reported, an expert earlier explained which religious organizations were affected by deferments under the DESS list. According to religious scholars, the list of critical entities included, among others, small neo-pagan associations, while the country’s largest Orthodox confession was left out.

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