In Odesa Region, court sentences Jehovah’s witness to 3.5 years in prison for refusing mobilization due to faith

The Ivanivsky District Court in the Odesa region sentenced a lyceum engineer and member of the “Jehovah’s Witnesses” organization to 3.5 years in prison for refusing mobilization on religious grounds. The man claimed that he considers himself “neutral to the state, does not identify with the Ukrainian people, and sees himself as a son of God.”

The court’s verdict was published in the Unified State Register of Court Decisions.

Since 2015, the Jehovah’s Witness has been registered as a first-category reserve serviceman specializing as an auxiliary worker. A medical commission deemed him fit for military service.

On December 20, 2023, he received a draft notice to report to a training center but refused to serve in the military, citing his religious beliefs. He was offered alternative duties, such as serving as an assistant military chaplain or cook—roles that did not involve direct participation in combat. However, he also declined these, arguing that such duties would still involve supporting soldiers using weapons.

He stated that his religious convictions prevent him from being subordinate to the military or aiding the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) and emphasized his neutrality toward the state.

On September 25, 2023, he submitted a request to the territorial recruitment center to replace his military duties with non-military service that would align with his religious beliefs. Despite this, he was sentenced to imprisonment for refusing to join the AFU.

Previously, a Jehovah’s Witness in the Kyiv region was sentenced to three years in prison for evading mobilization.

A human rights advocate noted that under martial law, it is legally impossible to refuse military service based on religious beliefs.