Council of Churches and DESS discuss booking of clergy and European integration issues

on November 5, 2025, representatives of the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations (AUCCRO) met with the head of the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience (DESS), Viktor Yelensky. During the dialogue, the parties discussed key issues of church-state relations, including the reservation of clergy, legislative initiatives in the context of European integration, and the celebration of the National Day of Prayer.

One of the central topics was the state of implementation of Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 76, which regulates, in particular, the procedure for booking clergy. According to the official website of the AUCCRO, Viktor Yelenskyy informed the participants about the current stage of approval and adoption of the specialized draft order of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, which will regulate this procedure.

In the context of Ukraine’s European integration, the participants of the meeting considered the draft law No. 14120 «On Amendments to Certain Laws of Ukraine in connection with the Update of the Official Translation of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.» The head of the DESS explained to the representatives of the denominations the main provisions and significance of this legislative initiative for the country.

At the end of the meeting, the participants exchanged views on the role of prayers in the ceremony of the National Day of Prayer in accordance with the action plan approved by Government Decree No. 1157-r. The meeting was attended by representatives of the OCU, UGCC, RCC, SUMU and a number of other religious associations of Ukraine. First Deputy Chairman V. Voynalovych was also present on behalf of the State Emergency Service.

Earlier, we reported that the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience published a list of criteria according to which religious leaders may be granted a deferral from mobilization. According to the list, clergymen of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church will not be able to be exempted from mobilization, as the UOC falls under the anti-church law No. 3894. Thus, the state is pursuing a discriminatory policy against at least 12,000 clergy of the UOC.