Chronicle of the reprisal against UOC clergy
A documented summary of known cases of detention, forced mobilization, and dispatch of UOC clergymen to military units – and why this is precisely a reprisal.
Defending one’s country is a constitutional duty. But a clergyman, under threat of being defrocked, cannot take up arms. Therefore, the forced mobilization of clergy is nothing other than a reprisal against priests and the Church.
In ancient times, one could avoid torment by renouncing Christ. In Soviet times, renouncing the priesthood could help. In today’s Ukraine, renouncing the Church and transferring to the OCU can help one avoid mobilization. But in every age, true Christians have chosen faithfulness. This publication is about those who have remained faithful today.
We have systematized the cases of mobilization of clergymen of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church that are available in the media. Let us make it clear from the outset: these are only the examples that have made it into the public domain. In reality, there are far more of them. Most likely, many times more.
Year 2024
Archpriest Ioan Rozman, Khust Eparchy
On March 14, 2024, the secretary of the Khust Eparchy, Archpriest Ioan Rozman, was summoned for questioning by an investigator at the Tiachiv District Police. After the interrogation, upon leaving the police premises, he was detained by armed men in balaclavas and taken to an unknown location. The eparchy later reported that he was serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, despite having grounds for exemption from service (many children). As of April 23, 2024, Archpriest Ioan Rozman was still being held in a military unit.
Archpriest Ioan Petechel, Khust Eparchy
On March 27, 2024, employees of the TRC (Territorial Recruitment Center) took away the treasurer of the Khust Eparchy of the UOC, Archpriest Ioan Petechel, who has three minor children. Following a parliamentary inquiry, the police opened a criminal case regarding the unlawful mobilization of clergy of the Khust Eparchy. On April 22, that is, nearly a month later, Fr. Ioan Petechel was released.
Archimandrite Varlaam (Didenko), Khust Eparchy
On August 31, 2024, a report appeared that the Uzhhorod TRC had mobilized Archimandrite Varlaam, the abbot of the Savior-Transfiguration Monastery in the village of Tereblia, Tiachiv District, Zakarpattia region. He was sent to a military training center in Rivne.
Archpriests Vasyl and Stepan Huk, Khust and Odessa Eparchies
On September 22, 2024, after the Sunday Liturgy in the village of Iza, Zakarpattia region, Khust TRC staff took away two UOC priests, brothers Archpriests Vasyl and Stepan Huk. They were held for an entire day; after the faithful came out to the TRC and blocked the road, the priests were released in the evening.
Archpriest Ioann Polishchuk, Cherkasy Eparchy
On October 1, 2024, in Kremenets, Ternopil region, Archpriest Ioann Polishchuk was detained, having recently returned from Germany where he had been ministering to UOC parishioners. Despite high blood pressure, he was denied medical assistance at the TRC and taken to a training center in the Rivne region. It was later reported that Fr. Ioann was subjected to physical and psychological pressure in one of the military units in the Zakarpattia region due to his refusal of mobilization on religious grounds.
Archpriest Vasyl Rosokha, Khust Eparchy
He was mobilized on October 2, 2024. According to his wife, after being held at the Tiachiv TRC, the priest was sent to Rivne.
Archpriest Petro Cholak, Volodymyr-Volynsky Eparchy
On October 25, 2024, the dean of the Novovolynsk Deanery of the Volodymyr-Volynsky Eparchy, Archpriest Petro Cholak, was forcibly mobilized in Lutsk. He was put on a bus, taken to the TRC, and then sent to a training ground. According to the reports, he was being pressured to serve bearing arms.
Archpriest Oleh Melnyk, Ternopil region
On November 2, 2024, the nearly 55-year-old Archpriest Oleh Melnyk was stopped at a checkpoint and taken to the TRC. He was held without food for more than a day, and his phone was confiscated. A published video claimed that one of the TRC employees had used force against him.
Archpriest Andrii Stupnytsky, Rivne Eparchy
On December 13, 2024, TRC employees detained the rector of the Holy Trinity Church in the village of Povcha, Rivne Eparchy, Archpriest Andrii Stupnytsky. It was reported that the priest was on his way to a church service on his name day, had serious health problems, but was declared fit for service. Later, information emerged that he had decided to remain and serve as a chaplain; however, due to his state of health, he was sent home for treatment.
Priest Yevhen Rozhdestvenskyi, Odesa Eparchy
On December 21, 2024, the priest of UOC churches in the villages of Krasna Kosa and Semenivka of the Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi Deanery of the Odesa Eparchy, Yevhen Rozhdestvenskyi, was detained at a mobile checkpoint in the Odesa region while returning from the maternity hospital after his wife had given birth. He was taken to various TRCs and training centers; reports emerged of health problems following a road accident. On December 31, it became known that he had been released.
Year 2025
Archimandrite Bohdan (Pylhui), Kharkiv Eparchy
On January 25, 2025, at the Kharkiv–Chuhuiv checkpoint, TCC employees detained Archimandrite Bohdan (Pylhui), the abbot of the men's monastery in honor of the icon of the Mother of God "Skoroposlushnitsa" in the village of Babai, Kharkiv Diocese. He was sent to a military medical commission and then taken around military units in Dnipro. After this information was made public, he was released.
Protodeacon Andrii Kravchuk, Balta Diocese
On March 4, 2025, in the city of Podilsk, Odessa Oblast, police stopped Protodeacon Andrii Kravchuk, a cleric of the Holy Dormition Cathedral in the city of Balta. He was taken to the TCC. The following day, he was released.
Archpriest Vladyslav Batiuk, Rivne Diocese
On May 22, 2025, in Pochaiv, TCC representatives detained Archpriest Vladyslav Batiuk, the rector of the Trinity Parish of the UOC in the Radyvyliv deanery, as he was returning from a church service. Without explanation, the priest was taken to the Kremenets TCC, where he was served a summons.
Archpriest Oleksandr Moskovchuk, Odessa Diocese
On June 10, 2025, the rector of the Trinity Church in the village of Troiandove, Odessa Oblast, Archpriest Oleksandr Moskovchuk, was detained. He was held for several days in various TCCs and military units; reports emerged of pressure to sign a contract. After five days, he was released.
Archimandrite Pafnutii, Pochaiv Skete
On June 11, 2025, in Kremenets, Ternopil Oblast, Archimandrite Pafnutii, the abbot of the Holy Spirit Skete of the Pochaiv Lavra, was detained. He was taken first to the Ternopil TCC and then to a military unit in Rivne Oblast. A TCC representative stated that the clergyman is subject to mobilization on general grounds.
Archpriest Oleksandr Zhuk, Rivne Diocese
On the evening of June 11, 2025, in Rivne, TCC employees detained Archpriest Oleksandr Zhuk, the rector of the church of the Holy Great Martyr Paraskeva in the village of Vyliia. The priest was immediately taken to a military medical commission, which he underwent throughout the night. The following day, he was released "due to the absence of grounds for mobilization".
Protodeacon Andrii Mankevych, Khmelnytskyi Diocese
On June 11, 2025, Protodeacon Andrii Mankevych, a cleric of St. Nicholas Cathedral of the Khmelnytskyi Diocese, was detained after the evening service. Several days later, he was released.
Deacon Maksym Huzenko, Sarny Diocese
On June 14, 2025, in Sarny, TCC employees detained a cleric of the Intercession Cathedral, Deacon Maksym Huzenko. His phone was confiscated and he was held at the TCC for several days. His subsequent fate is unknown.
Priest Rostyslav Kalinovskyi, Kamianske Diocese
On June 19, 2025, employees of the Kamianske TCC detained Priest Rostyslav Kalinovskyi from Kamianske, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. He was taken around various military units, which refused to accept him. Two days later he was released, but on June 24 he was summoned to the TCC again, where pressure was applied to make him sign a contract and take an oath. His subsequent fate is unknown.
Archpriest Ioan Koval, Ternopil Diocese
On the morning of June 22, 2025, in the city of Shumsk, Ternopil Oblast, TCC employees together with police detained Archpriest Ioan Koval as he was on his way to conduct services at the churches of the Dormition of the Mother of God in the village of Onyshkivtsi and the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos in the village of Bolozhivka. He was taken to the Shumsk TCC branch.
Archpriest Heorhii Pryimak, Ternopil Diocese
On June 23, 2025, a report came that TCC employees had detained Archpriest Heorhii Pryimak, the rector of the Trinity Church of the UOC in the town of Vyshnevets. The information that the clergyman was being held at the TCC was published by his daughter.
Later, the Ternopil Regional TCC commented on the forced mobilization of Archpriests Ioan Koval and Heorhii Pryimak, stating that they had not been reserved and are subject to mobilization on general grounds.
Archpriest Ihor Kushniruk, Ternopil Diocese
On June 24, 2025, a report came of yet another priest of the Ternopil Diocese abducted by TCC employees — Archpriest Ihor Kushniruk. No further information about the fate of Archpriest Ihor Kushniruk could be found in open sources.
Metropolitan Bohолер of Oleksandriia and Svitlovodsk
On July 15, 2025, TCC employees detained Metropolitan Bohолер of Oleksandriia and Svitlovodsk. After a summons and an administrative protocol were issued, the hierarch was released. The Greek news agency Romfea described the detention of Metropolitan Bohолер as part of the large-scale persecution of the UOC by the Ukrainian authorities.
Archpriests Hryhorii Bakunets and Oleksandr Soltys, Sarny Diocese
On August 4, 2025, two priests of the Sarny Diocese were detained. Archpriest Hryhorii Bakunets, the rector of the Holy Spirit Church in Mokvynski Khutory, was on his way to give communion to a gravely ill parishioner who had been left without last confession. On the same day, Archpriest Oleksandr Soltys, the rector of the Intercession Church in Peskove, was also detained.
Archpriest Serhii Shamailo, Volodymyr-Volynsky Diocese
On August 4, 2025, near Kremenets, Archpriest Serhii Shamailo, the rector of the St. Anna Parish in the village of Shchedrohoры, was detained. He was on his way to the Pochaiv Lavra for the All-Night Vigil before the feast of the Pochaiv Icon of the Mother of God.
Archpriest Yurii Naboka, Kharkiv Diocese
On August 3, 2025, in Kharkiv, Archpriest Yurii Naboka, a cleric of the Ascension Church, was detained. TCC employees stopped him on his way to the Sunday All-Night Vigil and sent him to Dnipro.
Priest Karp, Chernivtsi Diocese
On August 7, 2025, in Chernivtsi, TCC employees detained Fr. Karp at Cathedral Square. That same evening, it was reported that he had been released.
Archpriests Serhii and Vitalii Kyt, Kharkiv Diocese
On August 8, 2025, TCC employees detained two brother-priests — Archpriests Serhii and Vitalii Kyt. They were summoned to the SBU ostensibly for questioning, and upon leaving the building they were seized by TCC employees. The priests claimed they had a deferment.
Priest Fedir Hnitetskyi and Deacon Ivan Dmytruk, Bukovyna Diocese
In August 2025, reports emerged of the detention of Priest Fedir Hnitetskyi and Deacon Ivan Dmytruk. For several days they were taken around various military units.
Archpriest Bohdan Matviev, Kremenchuk Diocese
On August 25, 2025, on the last day of the cross procession from Kamianets-Podilskyi to Pochaiv, Archpriest Bohdan Matviev, the dean of the Kozelshchyna deanery of the Kremenchuk Diocese, was detained. At the moment of his detention, he was transporting sick people to the Lavra. He has five children, and his eldest son is serving at the front. It was later reported that he was at the Rivne training ground.
Archpriest Volodymyr Hlavatskyi, Rivne Diocese
On August 29, 2025, in the village of Pyriatyn, Dubno District, Rivne Oblast, TCC employees took away Archpriest Volodymyr Hlavatskyi from the cemetery after the funeral service for AFU soldier Yurii Datsiuk. The summons was handed to him right at the graveside while he was still in his vestments. After a formal military medical commission, Fr. Volodymyr ended up at a training ground.
Bishop Serafym of Novovoronsovka and Hieromonk Havryil, Nova Kakhovka Diocese
On September 2, 2025, TCC employees detained the vicar of the Nova Kakhovka Diocese, Bishop Serafym of Novovoronsovka and Hieromonk Havryil. They were sent to a training ground in Rivne Oblast.
Archpriest Mykola Hubka, Chernivtsi Diocese
In early September 2025, in Bukovyna, TCC employees took away the 58-year-old Archpriest Mykola Hubka, the rector of the St. Nicholas Parish in the village of Maliatyntsi. He was taken around military units for several days. After some time he was released and returned to his ministry at his parish.
Archpriest Mykola Hryha, Chernivtsi-Bukovyna Diocese
On September 11, 2025, TCC employees abducted the rector of the UOC Church of the Prophet Elijah in the village of Valiava, Archpriest Mykola Hryha. He was taken to the TCC premises in the city of Chernivtsi.
Archpriest Vadym Olianytskyi, Bila Tserkva Diocese
On September 12, 2025, in Bila Tserkva, on his way to church, TCC employees detained the rector of the St. George Chapel-Church, Archpriest Vadym Olianytskyi. He was later released, but was required to appear at the TCC upon summons.
Archpriest Mykola Khlan, Shepetivka Diocese
In early September 2025, a mobilized priest of the Shepetivka Diocese, Archpriest Mykola Khlan, the rector of the Transfiguration community in the village of Mynkivtsi, Slavuta District, Khmelnytskyi Oblast, was killed at the front. He had been mobilized shortly before his death, despite being under criminal prosecution, with the first-instance verdict not yet having entered into force due to an appeal.
Protodeacon Andrii Kyziun, Kyiv Diocese
On October 16, 2025, TCC employees detained in Kyiv UOC Protodeacon Andrii Kyziun. After a formal military medical commission, he was taken to a military unit.
Archpriest Vitalii Popko, Kovel Diocese
On October 16, 2025, near his own home, employees of the Lutsk TCC detained a cleric of the Church of the Pochaiv Icon of the Mother of God in Kovel, Archpriest Vitalii Popko. He has four minor children: two of his own and two adopted orphans. All the necessary documents had been properly filed. On October 17, following wide publicity and the prayers of the faithful, he was released.
Archpriest Kostiantyn Volovyi, Cherkasy Diocese
On November 17, 2025, TCC employees unlawfully detained a cleric of the Kamianske deanery, Archpriest Kostiantyn Volovyi. He was abducted on the road from Smila to Cherkasy and taken to the Smila TCC. Despite Fr. Kostiantyn having five minor children and his data being in the demographic register, he was sent to a military medical commission and then to a training center.
When the priest's relatives came to the Smila TCC and brought documents confirming the reservation, the military commissars refused to accept them. A day later, TCC employees released Fr. Kostiantyn, fearing public backlash.
Protodeacon Valentyn Makovskyi, Chernivtsi Diocese
On October 25, 2025, TCC employees detained a cleric of the Presentation Monastery in Chernivtsi, Protodeacon Valentyn Makovskyi. Nothing is known about his subsequent fate.
Priest Oleksii Lukash, Cherkasy Diocese
On November 6, 2025, in the city of Smila, TCC employees forcibly took away the rector of the church in honor of the New Martyrs of Cherkasy, Priest Oleksii Lukash. He was taken to the Cherkasy TCC, despite a previously established limited fitness status due to hypertension.
Priest Valerii Floresku, Chernivtsi-Bukovyna Diocese
On November 7, 2025, a report appeared that TCC employees had detained the rector of the parish in honor of St. Basil the Great in the village of Korchivtsi, Priest Valerii Floresku. He was sent to a training ground in Chernivtsi Oblast.
Archpriest Oleksandr Istratii, Chernivtsi-Bukovyna Diocese
On November 19, 2025, TCC employees took away the rector of the St. Nicholas community in the village of Marshyntsi, Archpriest Oleksandr Istratii.
Archbishop Andrii of Dnipropetrovsk and Petropavlivsk
On November 26, 2025, in Dnipro, TCC employees detained Archbishop Andrii of Dnipropetrovsk and Petropavlivsk and brought him to the Cathedral Recruitment Center of the city. After several hours, the archbishop was released from the building. Closer to nighttime, the bishop was rescued from the distribution center.
Archpriest Vitalii Ahafonov, Kryvyi Rih Diocese
In November 2025, a cleric of the Transfiguration Cathedral in Nikopol, Archpriest Vitalii Ahafonov, was mobilized, sent to a military unit, and assigned to the position of sniper-rifleman. Fr. Vitalii refused to serve as a sniper, citing the fact that a priest cannot take up arms. As a result, he was taken into custody on charges of desertion.
Archpriest Serhii Savievskyi, Volodymyr-Volynsky Diocese
On December 2, 2025, the TCC detained Archpriest Serhii Savievskyi, the rector of parishes in the villages of Sylne and Hupaly. After a formal military medical commission, he was sent to the Rivne training ground.
Priest Andrii Panasiuk, Rivne Diocese
On November 19, 2025, TCC employees detained the rector of the St. Michael's Church in the village of Bushcha, Priest Andrii Panasiuk, at a bus stop in the village of Zdovbytsia. His phone was confiscated, a military medical commission was quickly conducted, and he was sent to the training ground in Mala Liubasha.
Archpriest Vasyl Drahun, Khust Diocese
In late December 2025, in Uzhhorod, TCC employees forcibly mobilized Archpriest Vasyl Drahun, the rector of the Church of the Myrrh-Bearing Women in the village of Rakovo. At the time of mobilization, he was receiving inpatient treatment at the regional hospital.
Year 2026
Archpriest Mykola Syniuk, Chernivtsi Diocese
On January 7, 2026, TCC employees detained a cleric of the Chernivtsi-Bukovyna Diocese, Archpriest Mykola Syniuk, who was serving at the Presentation Monastery in Chernivtsi.
Priest Viacheslav Kalinichenko, Izium Diocese
On January 8, 2026, at a checkpoint in Chuhuiv, the rector of St. Michael's Church in the village of Petrivka, Izium Diocese, Priest Viacheslav Kalinichenko, was detained. He was held for more than 72 hours, then taken to Kharkiv, after which he was sent to Dnipro to a training unit.
Priest Andrii Ilman, Dnipropetrovsk Diocese
On January 17, 2026, in Dnipro, a cleric of the Holy Spirit Monastery, Fr. Andrii Ilman, was detained. He was stopped near his home as he was on his way to a church service, taken to a distribution point, and was being prepared for deployment to the front.
Archpriest Vitalii Chaban, Volodymyr-Volynsky Diocese
On January 23, 2026, Archpriest Vitalii Chaban was mobilized during inpatient treatment. He had the status of limited fitness, but after the military medical commission he was taken to a training ground in Starychi, Lviv Oblast.
Archpriests Petro Cholak, Bohdan Hnatiuk, Petro Rud, Serhii Savievskyi, and Vitalii Tsumyk, Volodymyr-Volynsky Diocese
According to a statement from the diocesan administration dated January 24, 2026, all of them had been mobilized and were serving in the military.
Archpriests Yurii Khavura and Andrii Olasiuk, Deacon Mykola Matviienko, Volodymyr-Volynsky Diocese
The diocese reported that Archpriests Yurii Khavura and Andrii Olasiuk are listed as missing in action, and Deacon Mykola Matviienko was killed. Details of their mobilization are not provided.
Archpriest Oleh Ostafiuk, Chernivtsi-Bukovyna Diocese
On January 26, 2026, a report appeared that TCC employees had detained the rector of the parish in
