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Automatically translated version. May contain inaccuracies compared to the original.
UNIAN In Volyn region, a court found a conscript guilty who, after passing the Military Medical Commission (VLC), refused to be conscripted during mobilization due to religious beliefs.
The man stated that he was ready to fulfill his duty to the state, but asked to be allowed to serve without the use of weapons, reports Sud.ua. As stated in case materials No. 159/6472/24, the Kobeliaky district court of Volyn region found the man guilty under Art. 336 of the Criminal Code ("evading conscription for military service during mobilization").
The edition noted that the man was on the military register, and 7 in June 2024 year passed the VLC, which recognized him fit for military service in support units, training centers, medical and logistical units.
That same day he was informed of the need to arrive at the Territorial Center for the Recruitment of the Military (TCCR) and SP for further service during mobilization. However, at the appointed time the man did not appear.
In court he partly admitted his guilt. According to the defendant, he could not agree to undergo military service due to religious beliefs. The man is a member of the Evangelical Christian Baptists community and claimed that his faith doctrine does not allow him to bear arms.
At the same time, he emphasized that he did not seek to evade the obligation to the state. The man stated readiness to undergo alternative service without using weapons and spoke about helping internally displaced persons and restoring damaged housing.
What the court decided
The court concluded that the man's guilt was proven. In particular, this was supported by documents, materials of the criminal proceeding, and testimony of TCCR and SP employees.
The court established that the man had been properly informed of the need to appear for further mobilization, knew about the criminal liability for evasion, but did not appear at the specified time.
Separately, the court considered the argument about religious beliefs and the desire to perform alternative service.
What the Supreme Court says
In its decision, the court referred to the legal position of the Supreme Court from 27 October 2025 year. The United Chamber of the Cassation Criminal Court then concluded that Ukrainian law does not provide for the possibility to refuse conscription during mobilization on the basis of religious or other beliefs. Such refusal may entail liability under Art. 336 of the Criminal Code.
At the same time, the Supreme Court emphasized that mobilization does not automatically mean a need to use weapons. Religious beliefs should be taken into account during service, in particular, a believer should not be forced to perform tasks related to bearing or using weapons. He may perform, for example, equipment repair, evacuation of the wounded, construction of fortifications, and other non-combat tasks.
What punishment did they impose
The court sentenced the man to three years of imprisonment, but released him from serving the sentence with a probation period of one year.
During this period, he must fulfill the court-imposed obligations, including periodically appearing before the probation service, reporting changes of residence, and not traveling outside Ukraine without approval.
Other mobilization news
Earlier, lawyer Yevhen Filipets said that although men in Ukraine are not mobilized up to 25 years, there are exceptions in the law. In particular, if a man is already registered as a conscript, he may be subject to mobilization.
Document: PDF proof of the original version of the news item "На Волині чоловік відмовився від повістки через релігійні переконання: суд виніс вирок". It records the publication content at the moment of the first scan, the preservation date and the source: UNIAN.
