In Odessa, TCC officials mobilized the protodeacon of the Trinity Cathedral of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church

An incident has been reported in Odessa involving the detention and subsequent conscription of Protodeacon Mykola Mazurts, a clergyman at the Trinity Cathedral of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC). Despite confirmed medical contraindications, the clergyman was deemed fit for military service and sent to the area where military units are stationed.

According to the SPZ publication, on June 6, 2026, representatives of the Territorial Recruitment Center (TRC) detained Fr. Nikolai and subjected him to a military medical examination (MME). The protodeacon’s relatives emphasize that he has been diagnosed with a number of serious medical conditions, including myopia and spinal pathologies, which are documented in his medical records. Nevertheless, the commission deemed his health condition suitable for military service.

According to available information, immediately after his detention, the cleric was sent to the Vinnytsia region. On June 7, he made contact with his relatives for the first time, reporting that he was being transferred to the Mykolaiv region to continue his service. The protodeacon’s family is calling on the public to offer support and prayers for him in this situation.

As a reminder, American politician Anna Paulina Luna has sharply criticized the forced conscription of clergy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) into the armed forces. In her view, the practice of sending clergy to the front lines constitutes a violation of international law and human rights.