Ukraine approves new procedure for reservation of clergymen from mobilization

The State Service of Ukraine for Ethno-politics and Freedom of Conscience (DESS) has announced the beginning of the second stage of reservation of clergymen from mobilization. The new procedure applies not only to leaders, but also to all clergy officially employed by religious organizations that are recognized as critical to the functioning of the state. A detailed procedure for submitting documents has been approved and clear criteria for obtaining a deferment have been defined.

According to the official website of the DESS, the legal basis was the agency’s order No. N-177/11 (as amended) dated November 10, 2025, which came into force on November 8, 2025. This document approved the “Procedure for the submission of documents for the reservation of clergy for the period of mobilization and wartime”, which regulates the mechanism for submitting applications and requirements for them.

To receive a reservation, a clergyman and the organization in which he serves must meet several mandatory conditions. First, the religious organization must be included in the official List of critical for the functioning of the economy and ensuring the life of the population. Second, employment contracts with clergymen must be concluded until November 17, 2025 inclusive. Third, clergymen in certain positions, including heads, deputy heads and ordinary employees of religious communities, monasteries and spiritual educational institutions, are subject to reservation. Finally, the organization must certify that it provides for the spiritual needs of military personnel, which is verified by the DESS in conjunction with the Military Chaplaincy Services.

The application process depends on the structure of the organization. If it is part of a centralized religious association, it first prepares a list of candidates for reservation with all necessary attachments and sends it to its governing center. The religious center (directorate) verifies the validity of the data and, based on it, forms a general submission, which is then submitted to the DESS. The submission is accompanied by lists and packets of documents for each candidate.

The package of documents for each clergyman should include: a list in the prescribed form, a copy of an extract from the register of insured persons on employment, a copy of a document confirming the existence of a ministry (e.g., a certificate of chastity), and a copy of the order of appointment. The DESS draws attention to strict filing and formatting requirements when filing electronically.

Religious organizations that are not part of any association prepare and submit the entire package of documents to DESS on their own. If a reserved clergy member is dismissed, the organization is required to file an application to revoke his or her deferment within five days. If the submitted documents contain errors, DESS will return them for revision.

The term of the clergy reservation will correspond to the period for which their organization is recognized as critical. To maintain this status, religious organizations must annually submit financial statements by March 1, based on which the DESS will update the relevant list.

We shall remind you that earlier we reported that the State Service of Ukraine on Ethno-politics and Freedom of Conscience published a list of criteria according to which religious figures may be granted deferment from mobilization. According to the said list, clergymen of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church will not be able to be reserved from mobilization, as the UOC falls under the anti-church law No. 3894.