On December 26, 2024, the Ukrainian government amended Resolution No. 76 of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine dated January 27, 2023,  "Some issues of implementation of the provisions of the Law of Ukraine "On Mobilization Training and Mobilization" regarding the reservation of conscripts for the period of mobilization and wartime". The amendment permits the reservation of clergy and classifies religious organizations as critical for the functioning of the economy and the livelihood of the population. 

According to the Procedure for Reserving Individuals Liable for Military Service During Mobilization and Wartime, approved by Resolution No. 76:

- all clergymen liable for military service according to the list of positions approved by the State Service for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience (DESS) will be subject to reservation (paragraph 5 of the Procedure);

-  clergymen will not be subject to the reservation limits of no more than half of the employees (paragraph 8).

- for religious organizations, the salary limit of 20,000 hryvnias is excluded for reservation purposes (clause 8);

- legal entities - religious organizations - will not be included in the Unified List of state authorities, other state bodies, local self-government bodies, enterprises, institutions, and organizations for the purpose of reserving persons liable for military service (clause 14);

- the reservation or cancellation of the deferment of clergy will be carried out through the Diia Portal. This process can be done according to specific lists or by submitting an electronic application to cancel the reservation of a person liable for military service, which is formed by an authorized person of the DESS (clause 26);

- the deferral granted is subject to cancellation in case of dismissal from the position of a clergyman (upon an electronic application of the DESS to revoke the reservation of a person liable for military service. This application is based on information provided by a legal entity, specifically a religious organization) (clause 31).

According to paragraph 2 of the Criteria and Procedure for Determining Enterprises, Institutions, and Organizations Critical to the Functioning of the Economy and the Livelihood of the Population during Special Periods, as well as Critical to Meeting the Needs of the Armed Forces and Other Military Formations during Special Periods, approved by Resolution No. 76, legal entities designated as religious organizations are included in a list and criteria established by the State Emergency Service of Ukraine as essential for the economy and the livelihood of the population.

This year, the Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations (UCCRO) has conducted a series of meetings and consultations with various authorities regarding the spiritual, social, and humanitarian activities of churches and religious organizations during the war.

On December 23, 2024, the UCCRO met with President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss topical issues related to the development of church-state relations in Ukraine.

Photo: varta1.com.ua