The number of military chaplains serving in Armed Forces of Ukraine revealed
Priests of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) are unable to serve on the front lines as military chaplains, as the state does not grant them a mandate.
Over 300 priests from 13 religious organizations serve in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, according to StratCom. The agency noted that the official chaplaincy service in the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) was established in 2021, though its roots date back to 2014 when the Russian invasion of Crimea and Donbas began.
"Chaplains are present alongside the military both on the front lines and in the rear or in hospitals. They pray with the soldiers, conduct religious ceremonies, and provide spiritual support to those in need," StratCom noted.
In November 2021, the Verkhovna Rada approved a law on the Military Chaplaincy Service, according to which a chaplain must have a mandate to perform this activity and sign a contract for officer service. Chaplains serve in the units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the National Guard, and the State Border Guard Service.
In March 2024, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine added an article to the chaplaincy law stating that a person belonging to a religious organization with a governing center in an aggressor state cannot serve as a military chaplain.
As reported by the UOJ, the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) previously explained why their clergy are reluctant to serve as chaplains on the front lines.
