Can religious beliefs prohibit military service? A popular priest-blogger gave an answer.

Priest Oleksii Filiuk from the Ternopil diocese of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine commented on the refusal of military service for religious reasons. In an interview with Hlavkom, he emphasized that refusing to defend could have catastrophic consequences for the country.

If I do not want to shoot, then I can dig trenches, cook food, deliver food to the front, and pick up the wounded. Let's all refuse to fight because of religious beliefs. The enemy will kill us in our beds, - said the priest.

We remind that in Odesa region, a man was sentenced to three years in prison for refusing mobilization. According to the case, in February 2024, the man categorically refused to receive a summons and wrote a statement refusing mobilization.

In Khmelnytskyi region, a man was also sentenced to three years in prison for refusing mobilization 'due to faith'.

Also, in Poltava region, a servant of the Evangelical Baptist Church was found guilty of military evasion and sentenced to three years in prison.

In Sumy region, a representative of the religious organization 'Jehovah's Witnesses' received three years in prison for evading military service during mobilization. The man was fit for service but refused to perform it.