Kamianka, Dnipropetrovsk Province, Ukraine, June 30, 2025
Photo: spzh.eu
It has been five days since Fr. Rostislav Kalinovsky, a priest of the Kamianka Diocese of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church’s, has made any contact with his family after he was seized by representatives of the local military enlistment office (TCC).
His whereabouts are completely unknown, reports First Cossack.
“In a striking escalation of pressure against the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), authorities are reportedly pursuing a new strategy to suppress its clergy: drafting them en masse into the military. What once appeared to be isolated incidents has become a broader campaign, with priests now being routinely detained by military enlistment offices (TCC), processed rapidly, and sent to the front lines,” explains the Union of Orthodox Journalists.
This is, in fact, the second time Fr. Rostislav has been kidnapped by TCC employees, leaving his parishioners without services or Sacraments for two weeks now.
He was first taken at about 5:00 AM on June 19 and forced to undergo a military medical examination. He was then taken to a mobilization center and his phone and cassock were confiscated. On June 21, he was taken around to various military units, though they all refused to take him. On June 22, he was released after four days of detention.
However, on June 25, Fr. Rostislav was called back to the TCC under the pretext of coordinating documents, and he was kidnapped again. He was able to speak with his wife for only a few seconds, reporting that his cassock had been taken away again and that they were going to put him in military uniform, reports the Union of Orthodox Journalists.
“Fr. Rostislav’s mother and wife are in despair. Both of them are disabled, both have been left without any support. The priest’s brother is also at the front. The family is asking for assistance in the clergyman’s release,” the UOJ writes.
“We’re all left alone with God, please help,” Fr. Rostislav’s mother appealed emotionally.
Follow OrthoChristian on Twitter, Vkontakte, Telegram, WhatsApp, MeWe, and Gab!
