In Kyiv, representatives of the Territorial Recruitment Center detained Archpriest Alexander Itsenko, a cleric of the St. Cyril's Monastery of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The incident occurred on January 28, 2026, as the priest was heading to the All-Night Vigil.
According to reports, despite having documents and not being on the wanted list, TRC officers, under the pretext of "updating his records," forced Father Alexander into a service minibus and drove him to an unknown location.
This detention continues a series of cases of forced mobilization and abduction of clergy of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church in various regions of the country. Previous reports have included detentions of clergy during services, in hospitals, and near their homes.
Such actions, carried out without legal grounds and in violation of procedure, indicate systematic pressure on the religious association. Human rights organizations note that these incidents occur outside the legal framework, without respect for guarantees of personal freedom and the right to a fair trial, which creates an atmosphere of impunity and arbitrariness.
According to reports, despite having documents and not being on the wanted list, TRC officers, under the pretext of "updating his records," forced Father Alexander into a service minibus and drove him to an unknown location.
This detention continues a series of cases of forced mobilization and abduction of clergy of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church in various regions of the country. Previous reports have included detentions of clergy during services, in hospitals, and near their homes.
Such actions, carried out without legal grounds and in violation of procedure, indicate systematic pressure on the religious association. Human rights organizations note that these incidents occur outside the legal framework, without respect for guarantees of personal freedom and the right to a fair trial, which creates an atmosphere of impunity and arbitrariness.