Britain may accept Ukrainians persecuted for refusing to fight due to faith
Each case will be considered individually.
The United Kingdom’s Home Office has updated its policy regarding the granting of asylum to Ukrainian citizens, stating that persecution for refusing military service on religious or political grounds may serve as a valid reason for obtaining refugee status. On October 1, 2025, the Home Office published an updated analytical report (CPIN) on military service in Ukraine.
The document pays particular attention to the fact that Ukraine has abolished the right to alternative (non-military) service, which had previously allowed believers to fulfill their civic duty without participating in combat.
The Home Office document emphasizes that due to the absence of a lawful alternative, individuals who refuse military service on grounds of religious belief face persecution. The report states that such persons in Ukraine may be sentenced to imprisonment or detention, and in some cases even subjected to torture. The Home Office explicitly qualifies such treatment as persecution for one’s convictions.
Other grounds for asylum include being held in inhumane conditions in pre-trial detention centers, which violates Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights (prohibiting torture and inhuman treatment), as well as being coerced into committing war crimes or other acts contrary to principles of humanity.
At the same time, the UK authorities specify that the mere fact of war, unwillingness to serve, or difficult service conditions do not in themselves constitute sufficient grounds for refugee status. Each case will be reviewed on an individual basis.
As the UOJ previously reported, the British Armed Forces have begun hiring “chaplains” for atheists.
