Philosopher Andrei Baumeister called the forced mobilization of priests from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church “Ukraine’s unique know-how”

Ukrainian philosopher and journalist Andriy Baumeister has sharply criticized the practice of forcibly conscripting Orthodox clergy, calling it an unprecedented phenomenon in world history. According to the expert, no such cases were observed during either World War I or World War II, which makes this situation a unique and alarming “novelty” of modern Ukraine.

During the “ ” broadcast on the Politeka Online YouTube channel, Baumeister emphasized that clergy, by virtue of their spiritual calling, should not take up arms; however, reports of them being sent to the front lines regularly appear on social media. The philosopher noted that this process is taking place against the backdrop of what amounts to extrajudicial persecution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC).

In his remarks, Baumeister also expressed skepticism regarding the state of Ukrainian democracy and civil society. He stated that many opinion leaders within the country have lost their independence and have become propaganda tools for the government.

As a reminder, earlier, American politician Anna Paulina Luna sharply criticized the forced conscription of clergy from 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.