Ukrainian Bishop Detained for Allegedly Issuing Fake Exemptions to Dodge Military Draft

Orthodox Church of Ukraine Bishop Faces Detention

According to Главком: A court in Ivano-Frankivsk has ordered the detention of Bishop Kyrylo (Mykhailiuk) of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU). He is suspected of orchestrating a scheme to issue fraudulent certificates of ordination as deacons, which would allow men of conscription age to avoid mobilization. This case highlights the ongoing challenges Ukraine faces in maintaining a fair and effective mobilization system during wartime. The court partially granted the request from Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) for custody but allowed the suspect to be released on bail of 233,000 hryvnias.

Church Official's Actions and Ecclesiastical Response

Until recently, Kyrylo (Mykhailiuk) headed the Uzhhorod-Khust diocese of the OCU. The investigation revealed that the clergyman would accompany candidates to territorial recruitment centers while wearing his clerical robes, allegedly receiving between $1,000 and $2,000 for his services. Through this scheme, an estimated 25 to 40 men liable for military service may have obtained fake documents.

In response, the OCU Synod has suspended the 62-year-old bishop from managing the Uzhhorod diocese. He is also prohibited from performing ordination rites and issuing official documents. Separately, the Security Service of Ukraine, together with the National Police, has disrupted channels for the illegal departure of conscription-aged men abroad. Organizers of these broader schemes reportedly charged between $12,000 and $18,000, offering services that included forged medical certificates and assistance in crossing the border outside official checkpoints. These operations were active in several regions of Ukraine.

This incident underscores the severe strains on Ukrainian society and institutions as the country defends itself against a full-scale invasion. The church's swift action to suspend the bishop reflects an effort to maintain its moral authority and public trust amidst a scandal that touches on national security and the fairness of the war effort.