{"id":59470,"date":"2026-06-23T11:17:38","date_gmt":"2026-06-23T02:17:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/?p=59470"},"modified":"2026-06-23T13:56:12","modified_gmt":"2026-06-23T04:56:12","slug":"vomk-report-404","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/2026\/06\/23\/vomk-report-404\/","title":{"rendered":"RUSSIA BOMBS CHURCH BUILDING OF UKRAINIAN PASTOR IT PREVIOUSLY ARRESTED AND TORTURED"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_section][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”59481″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” css=””][vc_custom_heading text=”A Russian Shahed drone struck the building of The Light of the Gospel Church in Balakliia in eastern Ukraine in the early afternoon on Saturday May 23. Despite severe fire damage, none of the occupants of the building at that time, including the church\u2019s pastor, Alexander Salfetnikov, nor the small group he was preparing for baptism, were injured.” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:1.2em|text_align:left|color:%23111111″ google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal” css=”” el_class=”headline”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”59477″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” css=””][\/vc_column][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”59484″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” css=””][vc_custom_heading text=”The Light of the Gospel Church building in Balakliia, burning after being hit by a Russian Shahed drone on May 23.” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:13|text_align:center|color:%23111111″ css=””][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]Pastor Salfetnikov\u2019s\u00a0<\/span>previous<\/span>\u00a0kidnapping and torture by Russian occupation authorities when\u00a0<\/span>Balakliia<\/span>\u00a0fell under Russian occupation for eight months in 2022 is causing some, like persecution watchdog Voice of the Martyrs Korea, to call the drone strike a deliberate act of Christian persecution.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]\u201cThe Light of the Gospel Church\u00a0<\/span>is located in<\/span>\u00a0a large\u00a0<\/span>open area<\/span>, bordered on one side by apartment buildings and on the other by a neighborhood of family homes. There can therefore be no question of any mistake,\u201d says Voice of the Martyrs Korea Representative Dr<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0Hyun Sook Foley. She notes that in recent weeks Russia has destroyed at least three buildings belonging to Ukrainian evangelical churches. \u201cThe goal of this strike was to neutralize the church, which during the war has become a center of evangelism and ministry, reaching not only the city itself but also many surrounding towns and villages, extending even to frontline cities, villages, and settlements in the Donetsk region.<\/span><\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]Representative Foley says that as many as 200 attend weekly worship services at the church, which\u00a0<\/span>also\u00a0<\/span>offers\u00a0<\/span>youth and children\u2019s ministry, Bible study groups,\u00a0<\/span>and meal service\u00a0<\/span>for the hungry<\/span><\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][\/vc_section][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”59520″ img_size=”303*400″ alignment=”center” css=””][vc_custom_heading text=”Members of the Light of the Gospel Church gather inside the burned church building the day after a drone strike to worship and sing hymns.” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:13|text_align:center|color:%23111111″ css=””][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]\u201c<\/span><\/span>When\u00a0<\/span>Balakliia<\/span>\u00a0fell under Russian occupation for eight months in 2022, the occupation authorities confiscated the building of The Light of the Gospel Church and looted its property. Everything that believers had not managed to hide beforehand was stolen<\/span>,\u201d says Representative Foley<\/span><\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u201cPastor\u00a0<\/span>Salfetnikov was arrested and brutally beaten and tortured for two days.<\/span><\/span>\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]Representative Foley says that after Pastor Salfetnikov was\u00a0<\/span>released from prison, he and his wife escape<\/span>d<\/span>\u00a0to territory controlled by Ukraine, but\u00a0<\/span>immediately<\/span>\u00a0after\u00a0<\/span>Balakliia<\/span>\u00a0was liberated he returned to his\u00a0<\/span>church and\u00a0<\/span>resume<\/span>d its<\/span>\u00a0ministry.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]\u201cI have many questions and\u00a0<\/span>few<\/span>\u00a0answers.\u00a0<\/span>But G<\/span><\/span>od preserved life<\/span>,\u201d Pastor Salfetnikov told Voice of the Martyrs\u00a0<\/span>immediately<\/span>\u00a0following the drone strike<\/span><\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>\u201c<\/span><\/span>There is not a single untouched place left in the church building. Lord, help us get through this. The enemy does not relent, but the Lord is stronger. He built this church and\u00a0<\/span>h<\/span>e will protect it.\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]The morning<\/span>\u00a0after the drone strike<\/span>, at the time of the Sunday worship service, Pastor\u00a0<\/span>Salfetnikov<\/span>\u00a0and a group of several dozen\u00a0<\/span>church members\u00a0<\/span>gathered in the hall of the burned-out church building to begin clearing the debris and assessing what might still be usable.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”59473″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” css=””][vc_custom_heading text=”Alexander Salfetnikov, pastor of the Light of the Gospel Church in Balakliia” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:13|text_align:center|color:%23111111″ css=””][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]They sang a hymn together that says in part,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]O how I love Your holy place,\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

O God, Your house divine,\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The living Church of human souls,\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Redeemed by blood of Thine\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

You guard it as Your precious own,\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Your treasured jewel bright<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

You shield it from the powers of evil,\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

O God, my dear delight,\u201d said Representative Foley.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]According to Representative Foley, t<\/span>he fire consumed the entire roof of the 1,300-square-meter building<\/span>, as well as m<\/span>ost of the church\u2019s equipment\u00a0<\/span>and a shipment of\u00a0<\/span>humanitarian aid that the church had recently received as a gift.\u00a0<\/span>She says that the church members continue to work on cleaning up the church daily.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]\u201c<\/span><\/span>At this moment, the church\u2019s greatest need is the rebuilding of the roof in order to protect the\u00a0<\/span>remaining\u00a0<\/span>rooms from rain, so that believers may continue their ministry there<\/span>,\u201d says Representative Foley<\/span><\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>She says a<\/span>\u00a0new electrical system must also be\u00a0<\/span>installed<\/span>\u00a0and most of the church equipment and furnishings will need to be replaced<\/span><\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]Individuals interested in donating to\u00a0<\/span>Voice of the Martyrs Korea\u2019s ministry\u00a0<\/span>to help The Light of the Gospel Church can donate to Voice of the Martyrs Korea\u2019s Ukraine emergency fund at\u00a0<\/span><\/span>www.vomkorea.com\/en\/donation<\/span><\/span><\/a>\u00a0 or via electronic transfer to:<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\uad6d\ubbfc\uc740\ud589<\/span><\/span>\u00a0(KB Bank) 463501-01-243303<\/span><\/span>,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\uc608\uae08\uc8fc<\/span><\/span>\u00a0(Account Holder): (<\/span><\/span>\uc0ac<\/span><\/span>)<\/span><\/span>\uc21c\uad50\uc790\uc758\uc18c\ub9ac<\/span><\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Please include the word \u201cUkraine\u201d with the donation. All donations should be received by\u00a0<\/span>July 30.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_video link=”https:\/\/youtu.be\/TOyIw8AOflo” css=”” title=”Light of the Gospel Church in Balakliia”][vc_column_text css=””]The Light of the Gospel Church building in\u00a0<\/span>Balakliia<\/span>, burning after being hit by a Russian Shahed drone on May 23.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_video link=”https:\/\/youtube.com\/shorts\/J_DohzDbTQE?feature=share” css=”” title=”Worship at the Light of the Gospel Church in Balakliia”][vc_column_text css=””]Members of the Light of the Gospel Church gather inside the burned church building the day after a drone strike to worship and sing hymns.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_column][\/vc_column]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"[vc_section][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”59481″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” css=””][vc_custom_heading text=”A Russian Shahed drone struck the building of The Light of the Gospel Church in Balakliia in eastern Ukraine in the early afternoon on Saturday …","protected":false},"author":1959,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"give_campaign_id":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[857,235,140],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-59470","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-russian-special","category-special-column","category-vomk-report"],"translation":{"provider":"WPGlobus","version":"3.0.2","language":"en","enabled_languages":["ko","en","zh","ru"],"languages":{"ko":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false},"en":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false},"zh":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false},"ru":{"title":false,"content":false,"excerpt":false}}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/59470","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1959"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=59470"}],"version-history":[{"count":25,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/59470\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":59525,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/59470\/revisions\/59525"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=59470"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=59470"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=59470"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}