{"id":59800,"date":"2026-07-14T10:51:38","date_gmt":"2026-07-14T01:51:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/?p=59800"},"modified":"2026-07-14T10:54:31","modified_gmt":"2026-07-14T01:54:31","slug":"vomk-report-407","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/2026\/07\/14\/vomk-report-407\/","title":{"rendered":"OCCUPIED UKRAINE: NATIVE-BORN PASTOR TO RECEIVE DEPORTATION VERDICT THIS WEEK"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_section][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”59802″ img_size=”full” css=””][vc_custom_heading text=”Persecution watchdog Voice of the Martyrs Korea is calling for prayers this week for a 67-year-old pastor in Occupied Ukraine who is facing deportation from his native city and country because of his ministry activities.” 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_column_text css=””]\u201cPastor Vladimir Pavlovich Rytikov was born in\u00a0<\/span>Krasnodon<\/span>\u00a0in 1959, in what was then the Voroshilovgrad Region of Soviet Ukraine,\u201d says Voice of the Martyrs Korea Representative Dr<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0Hyun Sook Foley. \u201cThis\u00a0<\/span>Fri<\/span>day, July 17, at a closed court session that even his wife\u00a0<\/span>can\u2019t<\/span>\u00a0attend, his deportation sentence for missionary activity will be read out.<\/span>\u00a0We are calling all believers to pray for the Lord to move the hearts of court officials to overturn the sentence.<\/span><\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]Representative Foley says that in a court hearing on July 1 about his deportation, Pastor Rytikov\u00a0<\/span>blessed the judge, the\u00a0<\/span>court\u00a0<\/span>secretary, and the representative of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and told them that the Lor<\/span>d<\/span>\u00a0love<\/span>d<\/span>\u00a0them.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”59811″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” css=””][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]\u201c<\/span><\/span>I am a native resident of the city of\u00a0<\/span>Krasnodon<\/span>, Luhansk region. I was born here and have lived here for 67 years. I am not a migrant<\/span>,\u201d Pastor Rytikov said<\/span><\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>\u201c<\/span><\/span>I have been performing presbyterial ministry in the local church since 1990. This is my earthly homeland, my home\u00a0<\/span>c<\/span>hurch, my wife, children, grandchildren, and my home. They took away the documents for our house and land plot and are refusing to return them; they have stripped us of all our right<\/span>s<\/span><\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>For a year and a half, my wife and I have not received our pensions.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>The Lord does not forsake us and helps us.<\/span><\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]According to Representative Foley, Pastor Rytikov has been\u00a0<\/span>tried multiple times over the past seven years for missionary activity and for conducting worship services without registration.\u00a0<\/span>\u201cThere\u00a0<\/span>were times when\u00a0<\/span>he\u00a0<\/span>had two or three court trials\u00a0<\/span>and fines each\u00a0<\/span>year,<\/span>\u201d she said.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]The son of an Unregistered Baptist pastor, Rytikov also became an Unregistered Baptist pastor.\u00a0<\/span>He and his father were sent to prison by Soviet authorities from 1979 to 1982 because of their Unregistered Baptist activities.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]\u201c<\/span><\/span>The<\/span>\u00a0Unregistered Baptist<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>congregations have always refused to register with the government because they believe registration is a form of government interference in church matters, and it potentially opens the door to further government involvement and control,\u201d says Representative Foley. \u201cThey\u00a0<\/span>maintain that both biblically and legally they have the right to gather together for worship without state permission.\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][\/vc_section][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”59808″ img_size=”large” css=””][vc_custom_heading text=”Pastor Rytikov and his wife Lyudmila, surrounded by praying supporters (Source: Urgent Prayer Requests from the Council of the International Union of Churches of Evangelical Christians-Baptists (IUCECB) Telegram channel).” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:13px|text_align:center|color:%230a0101|line_height:1.45em” css=””][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]Pastor\u00a0<\/span>Rytikov\u00a0<\/span>has served as\u00a0<\/span>pastor of the\u00a0<\/span>Krasnodon<\/span>\u00a0church\u00a0<\/span>since<\/span>\u00a01995.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]On January 25th, Russian authorities raided\u00a0<\/span>the<\/span>\u00a0church.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]\u201cBefore the authorities detained him<\/span>, he<\/span>\u00a0stood in the pulpit and prayed for both the church and the authorities who were raiding it,\u201d says Representative Foley. \u201cThe authorities warned Pastor Rytikov and the leaders of the congregation that if they did not register the church, it would be shut down. But Pastor Rytikov simply blessed the authorities who detained him, and then he shared with them about Christ.\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]On March 21,\u00a0<\/span>Pastor Rytikov posted on the\u00a0<\/span>Urgent Prayer Requests from the Council of the International Union of Churches of Evangelical Christians-Baptists (IUCECB)<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Telegram channel that\u00a0<\/span>officers from the Migration Service\u00a0<\/span>came to his home. \u201c<\/span>They called me out and said:\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u2018<\/span><\/span>Your residence permit has been revoked<\/span>\u2019,\u201d Pastor Rytikov wrote. \u201c<\/span>I have two weeks to leave for another country\u2014anywhere, they said,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u2018<\/span><\/span>Go to Poland, if you must.<\/span><\/span>\u2019<\/span><\/span>\u00a0They said that only my residence permit had been revoked, but not Lyudmila\u2019s (my wife\u2019s). On what grounds? They did not answer.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>I said,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u2018<\/span><\/span>I was born here and have lived here for 67 years, and now\u00a0<\/span>they\u2019re<\/span>\u00a0deporting me. What if I\u00a0<\/span>don\u2019t<\/span>\u00a0go anywhere?<\/span><\/span>\u2019<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>They said, \u2018We\u2019ll have you executed,\u2019 and\u00a0<\/span>they\u2019ll<\/span>\u00a0take measures to ensure my departure. Pray that the Lord will preserve and protect us. Lyudmila and I prayed and said, \u2018Lord,\u00a0<\/span>Thy<\/span>\u00a0will be done!\u2019\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”59805″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” css=””][vc_custom_heading text=”Pastor Rytikov (front middle\u202fin the blue shirt without jacket, holding the bouquet with\u202fred\u202fflowers) and his wife\u202fLyudmila\u202f(to his\u202fright,\u202fin the white shirt), surrounded by praying supporters (Source:\u202fUrgent Prayer Requests from the Council of the International Union of Churches of Evangelical Christians-Baptists (IUCECB)\u202fTelegram Channel)” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:13px|text_align:center|color:%230a0101|line_height:1.45em” css=””][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]Representative Foley says that at the preliminary court hearing for Pastor Rytikov on April 28, around forty supporters gathered in front of the courthouse but no one except the pastor was\u00a0<\/span>permitted<\/span>\u00a0inside.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]\u201cA nine-page indictment against Pastor Rytikov was presented, all centered around alleged missionary activity,\u201d says Representative Foley. \u201cAuthorities requested that Pastor Rytikov be deported.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]She says that Pastor Rytikov\u2019s court hearing was originally scheduled for June 19 but was post<\/span>poned<\/span>\u00a0until July 1 due to the absence of information related to the charges under Article 115-FZ (threat against the Russian Federation). The verdict is expected to be announced this Friday, July 17<\/span>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]Those who are interested in\u00a0<\/span>Voice of the Martyrs Korea\u2019s ministry in partnership with Christians in Russia and Ukraine can learn more at\u00a0<\/span><\/span>https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/project\/russia-ministry\/<\/span><\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/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=”59802″ img_size=”full” css=””][vc_custom_heading text=”Persecution watchdog Voice of the Martyrs Korea is calling for prayers this week for a 67-year-old pastor in Occupied Ukraine who is facing deportation from his …","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-59800","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\/59800","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=59800"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/59800\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":59822,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/59800\/revisions\/59822"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=59800"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=59800"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=59800"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}