"Again without the UOC": the DESS updated the list of critical religious organizations

on 8 May 2026, the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience (DESS) approved an updated list of religious organizations recognized as critical for the functioning of the economy. According to the official portal of the DESS, 10,922 legal entities were included in this list.

The process of forming the updated list was carried out in accordance with the established criteria on the basis of information provided by the Ministry of Justice and the State Tax Service of Ukraine. The main reason why many organizations were not included in the list was the failure or non-acceptance by the tax service of the annual report on the use of income of a non-profit organization for 2025.

According to statistical data by regions, the largest number of organizations that confirmed their status is in Lviv region (1,762), Ternopil region (1,082) and Ivano-Frankivsk region (910). In other regions the indicators are also significant: for example, in Volyn region there are 698 organizations, in Kyiv region — 721, and directly in Kyiv city — 449.

The department draws the special attention of the heads to the issues of reservation of conscripted clergymen. If a religious organization has been excluded from the updated list, the reservation of its employees will be canceled due to the loss of the status of critical importance. Organizations whose clergy reservations expire on June 6, 2026, are advised to submit documents for its renewal as soon as possible for timely processing of requests by DESS specialists.

We shall remind you that earlier we reported that the State Service of Ukraine on Ethno-politics and Freedom of Conscience (SSEC) confirmed discrimination against UOC priests in the issue of reservation of clergy from mobilization.