Over 2,200 “clergy” already exempted from mobilization — DESS

The State Service of Ukraine for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience (DESS) has reported that in less than a month, 2,285 “clergy” — heads of religious organizations — have completed the exemption procedure from mobilization. This was reported by the Interfax-Ukraine news agency.

“We inform you that on June 27, 2025, DESS began the process of exempting clergy — heads of religious organizations — from mobilization. As of the date of this response, 2,285 individuals have completed the procedure,” the agency was told in an official reply.

The service also noted that currently 7,726 religious organizations are officially recognized as critically important for the functioning of the economy and ensuring the vital needs of the population during a special period.

It is worth noting that Ukrainian media have analyzed the list of religious organizations that were granted “critical” status by the State Ethnopolitics Service, thereby securing deferments from mobilization for their representatives. According to reports, the list includes Old Believer churches — some of which explicitly indicate ties to Russia in their names — various “exotic” pagan groups, and even representatives of the UAOC, which was dissolved following the creation of the OCU in 2018.