In Rivne region, TRC employees forcibly mobilized two priests of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church

On August 4, 2025, in the Rivne region, employees of the territorial recruitment center forcibly mobilized two priests of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. One of the clergymen was detained on his way to the home of a dying woman who wished to confess and receive communion before her death. This was reported by the Union of Orthodox Journalists.

It is reported that these are the rector of the Holy Spirit Church in the village of Mokvinski Khutory, Archpriest Grigory Bakuntse, and the rector of the Intercession Church in the village of Piskov, Alexander Soltis. Protopriest Grigory was detained as he was on his way to a dying parishioner of the church who wanted to confess and receive communion for the last time. In addition, according to eyewitnesses, the priest is a father of many children, which is a direct obstacle to mobilization.

It should be noted that on the eve of the incident, the hierarch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Luke of Zaporizhia and Melitopol, published an appeal to the staff of territorial recruitment centers in connection with the forced mobilization of clergy of the UOC. The bishop called the mobilization of the clergy not just a violation of rights, but an attempt to decapitate the parishes of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.