UOC Parishioners Demand Answers Over Priest’s Forced Mobilization

Archpriest Vasyl Drahun. Photo: Tiachivska Pravda/Facebook

UZHHOROD, UKRAINE — On December 26, 2025, parishioners of the UOC Church of the Myrrh-Bearing Women in Rakovo, Zakarpattia, staged a peaceful protest outside the Territorial Center for Recruitment and Social Support (TRC) in Uzhhorod following the detention of their rector, Archpriest Vasyl Drahun. According to reports on social media, Fr. Drahun was reportedly mobilized while undergoing inpatient treatment at the regional hospital.

Demonstrators called for respect for freedom of conscience, adherence to the law, and an official explanation from the TRC regarding the priest’s detention. The faithful emphasized the importance of public awareness and sought the widest possible attention to the incident.

The protest highlights tensions surrounding clerical mobilization and the treatment of religious leaders in the region, with parishioners advocating for the protection of both their spiritual leader and the rights of Orthodox Christians in Zakarpattia. Local authorities have not yet issued a formal response.

Previously, the UOJ reported that a Ukrainian clergyman had died during military training after having been abducted by the TRC. 

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