Smila, Cherkasy Province, November 20, 2025
Photo: First Cossack
Another priest of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church was detained by military recruitment officials this week.
Fr. Konstantin Volovy, a clergyman of the Cherkasy Diocese, was taken to the Smila territorial recruitment center despite having grounds for deferment from military service, the First Cossack Telegram channel reported on Tuesday.
Fr. Konstantin is the father of five children, with this information registered in the state demographic registry.
Family members of the priest brought the necessary documents to the recruitment center, but officials refused to accept the papers or meet with his relatives. The priest was being held inside the recruitment center as of the time of the report, with his family present at the location awaiting police.
OrthoChristian has reported on many such cases of forced mobilization of UOC clergy, including hierarchs.
In August, the Zaporozhye Diocese published an appeal condemning the practice as an attack on the Body of Christ itself.
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