Priest Igor Ashcheulov, whose three sons have expressed a desire to serve in the Ukrainian Armed Forces, has not held a clerical position within the Lipetsk Metropolis since 2008. This fact was stated in an official press release published by the Metropolis website, clarifying the status of his service and affiliation.
According to the Russian Orthodox Church, Ashcheulov has not served as a priest in any parish or monastery within the Lipetsk Metropolis since 2008. The church’s statement was issued to set the record straight about his current ecclesiastical responsibilities and to address ongoing questions regarding his role in the region. [Citation: Lipetsk Metropolis press release]
In the same release, it was noted that Ashcheulov was removed from the metropolitan clergy roster in 2008 for leaving a parish without authorization. Further, it is reported that in 2012, during a visit by Metropolitan Nikon of Lipetsk and Zadonsk to the Ashcheulov family home, the household did not respond to the metropolitan’s arrival, despite the charitable mission that Ashcheulov had been associated with in the past. [Citation: official church communications]
Meanwhile, legal proceedings were disclosed by the Second Western District Military Court, which opened a criminal case involving one or more members of the Ashcheulov family related to alleged intent to betray the country by considering leaving Russia to join forces with the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The case focuses on whether such intent constituted a crime under applicable military or national laws. [Citation: court records and press statements]
Earlier public discussion of the Ashcheulov family’s situation occurred in 2007 when reports emerged that Ashcheulov’s spouse filed a complaint alleging abuse within the family. Ashcheulov characterized the dispute as a private family matter, describing it as a standard domestic disagreement. The wider public and media coverage has continued to reflect evolving perceptions of the family and its clergy status within regional religious structures. [Citation: regional media coverage]
In related regional developments, reports from Crimea noted a separate case involving a man who had planned to join the Armed Forces of Ukraine, with authorities imposing a sentence related to that planning. The connection between the Crimea case and the Lipetsk situation has been the subject of discussion in various public forums and reflects broader concerns about affiliations, loyalties, and the role of the church in national matters. [Citation: regional legal actions]