Orthodox Church of Ukraine priest Oleksiy Filyuk received a summons from the territorial recruitment center despite having three legal grounds for deferment from mobilization. The document was handed to him right on the square after the funeral of a fallen Ukrainian soldier on December 5.

The priest himself reported this on social media, publishing a video with the summons and jokingly commenting on the situation: "I have another military summons. That's it. Farewell, dear family, I'm going to defend Ukraine. We buried a warrior on the square, and after the warrior's funeral they handed me a summons. Haters, rejoice!"

Three Legal Grounds for Deferment

In an interview with Marichka Dovbenko, the priest explained his status in detail, naming three key factors that give him the right to postpone mobilization:

  • Large family: Filyuk is raising five children, three of whom are minors, and independently cares for orphaned children
  • Work reservation: the priest is officially employed at an agricultural firm that has strategic enterprise status
  • Temple service: religious organizations belong to critical infrastructure objects, which gives the right to personnel reservation

Despite having these legal grounds, TRC representatives still handed him a summons immediately after the funeral ceremony ended.

Spiritual Support for Military

Oleksiy Filyuk actively engages in spiritual care for Ukrainian defenders and runs a popular blog. The priest noted that his main duty now is caring for children whom he cannot leave alone, but if not for parental duties, he would have long been serving as a chaplain on the front lines.

In his comment on the situation, Father Oleksiy also mentioned other troubles of the day: "Such a day, God forbid: package was stolen, received a summons."

It is currently unknown whether the priest will appear at the territorial recruitment center. He continues to run his blog and provide spiritual support to military personnel, combining parish service with work in the agricultural sector.

The situation sparked considerable discussion on social media, as receiving the summons occurred against the backdrop of constant tension in society due to prolonged Russian aggression and intensified mobilization measures.