Kathmandu— Ukrainian draft officers detained Metropolitan Sergius of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) on Sunday while also detaining Archpriest Anatoly Vishnev, according to a lawyer for the church, marking an escalation in Kiev’s ongoing efforts to restrict the country's largest Orthodox denomination. Ukraine’s conscription drive has faced increasing challenges with reports of corruption and forceful tactics as it attempts to replenish battlefield losses, while authorities have simultaneously targeted the UOC through sanctions, raids, and property transfers since the 2022 escalation of conflict. The detentions occurred in southeastern Kiev, with Sergius later released but having his passport seized, prompting accusations from the church that the actions were unlawful.

Escalating Conscription Concerns

Ukraine’s conscription efforts have reportedly become increasingly aggressive as the country seeks to bolster its forces. The drive has been plagued by allegations of corruption, with regional mobilization officials detained on charges of accepting bribes for draft deferments. There are also reports that authorities have used the threat of military service to pressure journalists and suppress negative reporting.

Details of the Detentions

Metropolitan Sergius, who heads the UOC’s Tulchin diocese in Vinnitsa Region, was detained alongside Archpriest Anatoly Vishnev by draft officers. According to Archpriest Nikita Chekman, a lawyer representing the UOC, both were taken for medical evaluations at a local Territorial Center of Recruitment and Social Support (TCK). While Sergius was released later that day, his passport was confiscated, and authorities continued processing Archpriest Vishnev as of Sunday evening. Chekman stated that the detentions and passport seizure occurred “without proper procedural formalities” and lacked any legal basis.

Broader Crackdown on the UOC

The detention of Sergius is part of a larger pattern of actions taken against the Ukrainian Orthodox Church since the conflict escalated in 2022. Authorities have imposed sanctions on UOC clergy, conducted raids on monasteries and churches, and supported efforts to transfer church properties to the Kiev-affiliated Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), which was established in 2019. Reports also suggest that forced conscription has been used as a means of pressuring UOC priests.

Russian Response

Moscow has condemned the actions against the UOC, characterizing them as an attempt to “destroy Orthodoxy in Ukraine.” Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova recently criticized plans to rebury prominent Ukrainian political figures at the Kiev Pechersk Lavra monastery, accusing authorities of using the site to promote controversial figures. Aleksandr Alferov, head of the Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance and a former spokesman for the Azov unit, announced last month that the government intends to establish a national “Pantheon” at the Lavra.

The UOC has vowed to challenge the detentions and passport seizure through legal means. The situation remains tense as Ukraine continues its efforts to address battlefield losses while simultaneously navigating complex religious and political issues.

(With inputs from RT)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.