UGCC chaplain Rostyslav Vysochan said in an interview with Ukrinform that clergy of different faiths do not want to serve as chaplains in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Because of this, they are in the army – less than a quarter of the need.

“We have 738 positions, of which only 165 have been filled,” Vysochan said.

He added that this, firstly, is due to the fact that “there is a shortage of clergy in Ukrainian society.” And secondly, that the clergy do not want to join the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

“There are many priests who do not agree to join the military chaplaincy for a number of different reasons. In particular, the fact that you become a soldier, an officer of the armed forces and, accordingly, certain conditions, including physical ones, are imposed on you,” said the representative of the UGCC.

Rostislav Vysochan, as well as his colleague, “chaplain” of the OCU Konstantin Kholodov, noted that there are practically no priests of the UOC in the army, because the law forbids them, and they do not see a problem in this.