Ukrainian Orthodox Church Metropolitan Detained by Military Recruitment Officers

On July 15, 2025, officers of the Territorial Recruitment Center (TRC) forcibly mobilized Metropolitan Boholep (Honcharenko) of the Oleksandriia and Svitlovodsk Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The hierarch is 47 years old, and, according to previous reports, did not have an official deferment, which under current law made him subject to general military conscription.

Later, the information was confirmed by sources from the Union of Orthodox Journalists (UOJ). According to their report, the metropolitan was indeed detained, but after being issued a summons and an administrative protocol, he was released. He has not yet been sent to a military unit and remains free.

It should be recalled that clergy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church who were previously detained by TRC officers in different regions of the country are currently being held against their will at a military base in Lviv region. They are reportedly being pressured to sign documents and begin military service at the front.