Additional Name(s): Михайл Рєзніков
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Russia
Religion or Belief: Christian – Protestant
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Date of Detainment: March/9/2022
Current Status: Released
Religious Leader: Yes
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Disappeared
Reason for Persecution: Humanitarian Work & Charitable Activities Religious Figure & Religious Leadership Role
Nature of Charges: Unknown
Mykhailo Reznikov was disappeared in relation to his religious leadership role.
On March 9, 2022, Russian military forces detained Reznikov, a Baptist pastor, in Russian-occupied Mariupol, Ukraine, reportedly as he was searching for food for his church community.
On an unspecified date, Reznikov was released. In April 2022, a video of Reznikov discussing his arrest was posted on YouTube.
"Война и пастор: служение, арест, благость Божия" Церква ЄХБ Дніпро
“В Маріуполі росіяни захопили пастора та батька десяти прийомних дітей” All-Ukrainian Council
ЄХБ | Братство, Telegram, March 10, 2022
Gender: Female
Perpetrator: Russia
Religion or Belief: Christian – Protestant
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Date of Detainment: September/21/2022
Current Status: Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Disappeared
Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity Religious Belief Religious Figure & Religious Leadership Role
Nature of Charges: Unknown
Tatyana Ponomaryov was disappeared for her religious beliefs and activity.
On September 21, 2022, armed men in military uniform abducted Ponomaryov and her husband, a Baptist pastor, from their home in Russian-occupied Mariupol, Ukraine. Previously, Russian officials had reportedly claimed that the two had been involved in “extremist activity,” and military personnel searched and closed Ponomaryov’s church.
On October 21, 2022, the Ponomaryovs were released.
Related Cases: Leonid Ponomaryov
Photo attributed to ©Private [CC BY-NC-ND 4.0] via Forum 18
USCIRF Issue Update: Russia’s Religious Freedom Violations in Ukraine July 2023
“OCCUPIED UKRAINE: Masked soldiers seize Mariupol pastor and wife” Forum 18
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Russia
Religion or Belief: Christian – Protestant
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Date of Detainment: September/21/2022
Current Status: Released
Religious Leader: Yes
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Disappeared
Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity Religious Belief Religious Figure & Religious Leadership Role
Nature of Charges: Unknown
Leonid Ponomaryov was disappeared for his religious beliefs and activity.
On September 21, 2022, armed men in military uniform abducted Ponomaryov, a Baptist pastor, and his wife from their home in Russian-occupied Mariupol, Ukraine. Previously, Russian officials had reportedly claimed that the two had been involved in “extremist activity,” and military personnel searched and closed Ponomaryov’s church.
On October 21, 2022, the Ponomaryovs were released.
Related Cases: Tatyana Ponomaryov
Photo attributed to ©Private [CC BY-NC-ND 4.0] via Forum 18
USCIRF Issue Update: Russia’s Religious Freedom Violations in Ukraine July 2023
“OCCUPIED UKRAINE: Masked soldiers seize Mariupol pastor and wife” Forum 18