Court sentences mobilized Jehovah’s Witness to 6 years in prison for desertion

The Mykolaiv District Court of the Mykolaiv Region found a mobilized serviceman guilty of desertion during martial law and sentenced him to 6 years in prison.

In court, the defendant stated that he did not recognize himself as a serviceman, since, according to him, he was illegally taken to the place of service by the CCC employees. He also referred to his religious beliefs, noting that he was a member of the Jehovah’s Witnesses religious organization and refused to be mobilized due to the ban on taking up arms.

The court found that the man had been outside the military unit for more than three months without good reason and had not reported his whereabouts. In October 2025, he was detained by law enforcement officers.

During the consideration of the case, the court referred to the legal positions of the Supreme Court, according to which the right to alternative service does not apply during mobilization, and religious beliefs do not exempt a person from the obligation to perform military service under martial law.

The court also emphasized that even in case of disagreement with the actions of the CCC, a person must appeal them in a legal manner, and not arbitrarily leave the place of service after being enrolled in a military unit.

Based on the results of the consideration of the case, the court sentenced the accused to 6 years of imprisonment and kept him in custody until the verdict becomes final.