Ukrainian eparchy: Conscripted priest ‘did not follow guidance’

The Eparchy of Mukachevo stated Friday that Father Andriy Stebivka did not follow instructions provided to clergy to ensure they receive military draft deferment.

Stebivka, 38, was mobilized in the Rivne region of Ukraine on Oct. 12 while returning from a spiritual retreat outside his eparchy. The eparchy reported that he did not possess the necessary documentation to formally confirm his eligibility for a clergy reservation procedure at the time of his mobilization.

The eparchy's statement addressed earlier reports suggesting that the bishop of Mukachevo and the Vatican's diplomatic representative in Ukraine were working to secure his release. The eparchy noted that those reports contained assessments and interpretations that do not reflect the position of the eparchy or Stebivka's own understanding of his circumstances.