In the Poltava region, a clergyman of the Seventh-day Adventist Church was tried for refusing to serve in the Armed Forces of Ukraine

The Dykanka District Court sentenced a man who refused to receive a draft notice for military service because he belongs to the Seventh-day Adventist Church. He holds the position of “deacon” and therefore cannot serve in the army. In particular, his religion forbids him from taking up arms and working on Saturdays. This was reported by Suspilne.Poltava.

According to a certificate from the military medical commission dated September 25, 2024, the man was found fit for military service. On the same day, he was handed a summons to appear at the military registration and enlistment office and then be sent to a military unit. However, he refused to accept the draft notice, citing his religious beliefs. After that, a report of refusal was drawn up and a video recording of this fact was made.

During the court hearing, the defendant did not admit his guilt and explained that the Constitution of Ukraine provides for freedom of religion. He has been a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church since childhood and was baptized at the age of 18. The man currently holds the position of “deacon.” According to him, he had no intention of evading mobilization, but his religion forbids him from taking up arms and working on Saturdays, as this day, according to Adventist teachings, should be devoted to God.

The man applied to the TRC and the SP with a request to replace his military duty with alternative, i.e., non-military service. However, he was refused because, according to current legislation, alternative service during wartime is not provided for. Any position offered in the army (even cook, driver, etc.) requires initial training and taking an oath, which is unacceptable to him, since during training he would have to take up arms. And the oath obliges him to obey all orders of the commander, including those related to direct participation in combat operations.

The defendant also stated in court that he does not refuse to fulfill his civic duty and wants to serve the state, but only if his rights to freedom of religion are respected and he does not have to carry weapons. He also does not believe that he has committed a criminal offense, as his rights are protected by the Constitution of Ukraine.

We will remind you that recently, the Greek church news agency Romfea published a news item about the detention of Metropolitan Bogolep of Alexandria, a member of the Territorial Center for the Recruitment of Hierarchs of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, by employees of the center. The publication noted that the incident with the detention of the UOC bishop is one of the elements of state pressure on the Church.