OCCUPIED UKRAINE: Born in Krasnodon 66 years ago, now ordered expelled

On 21 March, Russia's occupation authorities in Ukraine ordered Baptist pastor Vladimir Rytikov to leave what they regard as Russian territory within two weeks. "I was born here and have lived here for [nearly] 67 years, now I'm being driven out," he noted. Officials have repeatedly raided the Council of Churches Baptist congregation which the Soviet-era religious prisoner of conscience has led for 30 years in Krasnodon, his birthplace. Courts have repeatedly fined him for "illegal missionary ac