In Ukraine, 6,500 priests have been withdrawn from military service.

In Ukraine, approximately 6,500 clergy have been exempted from mobilization. This option is available to representatives of religious organizations deemed critically important.

This was reported by the head of the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnopolicy and Freedom of Conscience , Viktor Yelensky .

According to him, of the more than 35,000 religious organizations operating in Ukraine, over 10,000 currently have critical status. The leaders and clergy of these organizations can receive a deferment from mobilization through reservations.

“There are 6,500 such reserved priests,” Yelensky noted.

At the same time, he emphasized that religious organizations belonging to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church cannot be classified as critical infrastructure, and their clergy do not have the right to reservations.

Yelensky also cited the results of sociological research: 25% of respondents believe that priests should serve in the army on an equal basis with other citizens, while 44% support granting them exceptions, including those that do not require participation in combat.

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