"And I have reasons!": the cleric of the PCU called evasion of mobilization a sin and explained why he himself does not serve

An odious cleric-blogger of the Ternopil diocese of the Ternopil diocese of the OCU, Oleksiy Filuk, called evading mobilization and hiding from the TRC a sin, stressing that defending the homeland is the duty of every man. At the same time, answering questions about why he himself is not at the front, Filiuk referred to his legal right to a deferment, obtained by adopting children.

In a conversation with journalists, reported by the publication VSN, Oleksiy Filyuk expressed his position unequivocally. “To protect the Motherland – it is your duty. To hide – it’s not normal”, – he noted, commenting on the actions of men avoiding the draft.

When asked by users in social networks why he himself is not fighting, Filyuk replied that he has legal grounds to do so. The reason for deferring mobilization was that he is the adoptive parent of four children from orphanages. Despite the clarification in the comments that two of the adopted children have already reached adulthood, his right to deferment remains in force.

According to the current Ukrainian legislation, adoptive parents who have at least one child under the age of 18 in their care, who until the moment of adoption had the status of an orphan or a child deprived of parental care, are not subject to mobilization. Thus, the deferral of the priest is fully in line with legal norms.

Recall, earlier Alexei Filuk stated that “surrendering” relatives to territorial acquisition centers (TRC) is not a sin and can be considered as a benefit for the state.