Court in Volyn recognizes priest's mobilization as illegal

The Volyn District Administrative Court ruled that the mobilization of a Baptist minister was unlawful and cancelled because he was included in the official lists for draft deferment. The court ruled that the territorial manning center (TRC) had violated the law by failing to properly verify information about the minister’s eligibility for deferment.

According to the publication VSN, a pastor of the religious community of Evangelical Christians-Baptists «New Life», who was mobilized in March 2025, filed a lawsuit with the court. He demanded to cancel the order on his recruitment and enrollment in the military unit, considering the actions of the TRC illegal.

In his lawsuit, the pastor pointed out that his religious beliefs forbid believers, and even more so clergymen, to take up arms. He also informed the TRC representatives during the mobilization events that his name was included in the reservation lists in accordance with the Law of Ukraine «On Mobilization and Mobilization Preparation». These lists are approved by the State Service for Ethno-politics and Freedom of Conscience.

Having studied the case materials, the court concluded that at the time of conscription the plaintiff was immune from mobilization. The State Service of Ukraine on Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience confirmed that the pastor was indeed included in the relevant list. The judge emphasized that the TRC was obliged to verify information about a person’s status and whether he had grounds for deferment in order to prevent unlawful actions.

As a result, the court fully satisfied the serviceman’s claim, recognizing the orders on his conscription and enrollment in the military unit unlawful and canceling them. It is noted that this decision can still be appealed on appeal.

We will remind, earlier we reported that the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine approved changes to the «Regulations on the procedure for issuing a mandate for the right to carry out military chaplaincy activities» in the Armed forces of Ukraine. According to the new amendments, the UOC priests are finally prohibited from performing chaplaincy activities in military units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.