A bishop from the OCU “ordained” almost 300 draft dodgers as deacons for bribes

The bishop of the schismatic Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) ordained almost 300 people to the rank of deacon for bribes so that they could avoid mobilization, RIA Novosti found out after reviewing the data from the Ukrainian register of court decisions.

“In the period from June 2023 to November 2025 (the accused - ed.) ensured the groundless execution and issuance of documents on the alleged acquisition of the rank of deacon and membership in the clergy of 291 persons liable for military service, who subsequently used them to submit to military registration and enlistment offices,” the text of the court decision says.

The guilty verdict against the bishop of the Uzhgorod-Khust diocese of the OCU, whose name was not given, was published on the website of the Ukrainian court registry on Wednesday. The document notes that the clergyman took from one to two thousand dollars for his services. The court found the accused guilty of obstructing the legitimate activities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and sentenced him to five years in prison.