UOC Priest Taken Into Custody Outside Kyiv Church

KYIV — According to reports cited by the First Cossack Telegram channel, a priest of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) is reportedly being held at a military training unit after being detained by territorial recruitment personnel outside his parish in Kyiv earlier this month.

Fr. Alexander Drobiazko, rector of the Dormition Church, was stopped by representatives of a Territorial Recruitment Center (TRC) on June 4. The encounter allegedly took place just outside the church. The report states that recruitment officers questioned the clergyman about his religious affiliation and detained him after he identified himself as a member of the UOC.

The priest was then taken to a police station, where he was reportedly placed in handcuffs before being brought before a military medical commission. According to the report, the commission declared him fit for military service. Fr. Alexander is currently being held at a training unit in Ukraine's Chernihiv region.

As reported by UOJ-Ukraine, the report further alleges that recruitment officials repeatedly indicated that the priest's religious affiliation was a factor in their actions. Fr. Alexander has reportedly declined to sign documents or take actions that he believes would violate his priestly vows while he remains in custody.

Previously, the UOJ reported that a Kyiv priest went missing after TRC detention.