Biography
Vladimir Kolesnikov, a retired military man, faced criminal prosecution for his faith in 2022. Two years earlier, he had experienced the death of his spouse.
Vladimir was born in March 1946 in Lviv (Ukraine). He has a younger brother and sister. As a child, he was fond of sports and participated in running competitions.
From 1956 to 1968, Vladimir received an education: first he studied at the Orenburg and Kazan Suvorov schools. And then he received a higher education, graduating from the Yeysk Aviation School. After that, he served in Transbaikalia, and in 1976 he retired with the rank of captain. After that, Vladimir worked at the northern mine. He is now retired. His situation is complicated by the fact that due to the illness he has suffered, he is limited in his actions.
In 1979, he married Zinaida, who raised her daughter alone. In their life together, they had a son and a second daughter. Zinaida worked in trade and cleaning. Due to the deterioration of her health, the couple moved to the village of Vyselki, Krasnodar Territory, where Vladimir lives to this day. In his free time, he takes care of the garden and walks.
Even in his youth, Vladimir, convinced of the existence of God, began to think about spiritual issues. In 1993, his wife learned that Jehovah's Witnesses were planning a major meeting for worship and wanted to attend. Later, the couple began to study the Bible together and in 1995 embarked on the Christian path.