OCU complains that the State Emergency Service is reluctant to recognize its parishes as "critical infrastructure"

Not all clergy of the OCU are able to receive reservations from mobilization during the period of martial law. The situation is due to the fact that the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience has not yet recognized some parishes as critical infrastructure facilities, which is a key condition for obtaining a deferral. This is reported by the publication «Tyzhden».

OCU cleric Mykhailo Karnaukh, in an interview with the Weekly, explained that in order to obtain the status of critical infrastructure, the community must submit relevant documents, including tax reports confirming the official employment of the priest.

The official booking of heads of religious organizations began in September, covering only 50% of the total number of OCU clergy. At that time, only rectors of churches were booked as separate entities. In December, the second wave of reservations began, intended for clergy who occupy the second or third position in the parish staff.

Despite the fact that Mykhailo Karnaukh, who is officially registered as an employee of the Kyiv Cave Monastery National Reserve, has a reservation, he emphasized that many priests do not receive it because their parishes are not recognized as critical infrastructure facilities due to certain legal aspects.

He also emphasized that each parish is actively finalizing the necessary documents for the legal protection of its pastors, especially in rural areas. The mobilization of a priest in a village, he said, can cause «double stress» and even «certain social problems» because of his only role in the community.

Karnaukh reminded that by law, all clergy, including monks, are liable for military service. He emphasized the importance of appearing at the military registration and enlistment office when summoned, as ignoring such calls entails legal consequences. He added that he himself had to repeatedly visit the military enlistment office, undergo a military medical commission (MMC) and conduct interviews.

Earlier, 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.