On the morning of Feb. 24, central European time, Russian military forces attacked Ukraine from the north, east, and south. For the first time in 75 years, air raid sirens once again blared across one of Europe’s ancient capitals. Led by dictator, Vladimir Putin, Russia aggressively and without justification attacked the sovereignty of their neighbor to control them and their resources. The situation is explosive, to say the least, and could spark World War III.
The expectation among Western military analysts, and most certainly within the Kremlin, was that Ukrainian military forces would quickly collapse and the government of Volodymyr Zelenskyy would abandon Kyiv and flee for safety. Instead, Ukrainian military forces rose to the occasion, mounting a tenacious defense of their native soil and significantly slowing the pace of the Russian advance.
With each passing day it is becoming more clear that Putin miscalculated the resolve of the Ukrainian people and their faith in God. As of the time of publication of this column, the Ukrainians were still resisting against overwhelming odds and winning the admiration of the world. Not only is the nation more united than ever before but many see this as a David versus Goliath story. And today, President Zelensky, in their eyes, is clearly the David.
Zelensky is perhaps the most unlikely Ukrainian hero, given his background as a comedian and actor. His bold and defiant leadership has given Ukraine the resolve it urgently needed in the early days of the invasion. When rumors surfaced that he was fleeing the capitol, he pushed back with a video of him and his leaders in the street saying, “We’re still here.” When the Biden administration offered an evacuation, he said, “I need ammunition, not a ride.” He and his family have become Putin’s number one target and they may very well not survive as satellite images have shown a massive 40-mile Russian convoy closing in on the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv. No matter what happens, his courage will be remembered for many years to come.
Other stories of bravery are coming out of Ukraine daily. A Ukrainian soldier blew himself up to destroy a bridge in an effort to stop Russian tanks from invading his country. An eighty-year-old Ukrainian man showed up to volunteer, saying he wanted to fight to protect his grandchildren. A Ukrainian couple got married on the day of the invasion and chose to spend their first days of marriage carrying rifles to defend their country.
A beauty queen and former Miss Grand Ukraine has joined the Ukrainian military. Olympic gold medal-winning boxer Vasiliy Lomachenko has joined a territorial defense battalion. Civilians in country towns across Ukraine have joined the battle and many are making Molotov cocktails to use against the Russians.
CBN News’ senior international correspondent George Thomas continues to be in the middle of the Ukrainian war zone, sharing videos and images of the troubling, traumatic — and inspiring — events unfolding on the ground. Thomas has shown viewers what is happening in real-time, capturing the Ukrainian people’s spirit, grit, and determination.
The reporter offered a view of how Ukrainian Christians are handling the deadly uncertainty. And that is with faith, love, and an appeal to the Gospel. He told of a church he visited recently that was not only praying and worshipping but was also actively engaged in being the hands and feet of Jesus.
“The pastor of the church, in essence, set the tone for this past Sunday,” Thomas said. “He got up and said, ‘As we worship and come into a time of praise and worship, that all of the songs we sing today, we sing keeping in mind what is going on today in our nation. And as we storm the gates of heaven with our praise … we are in essence storming the gates of heaven for peace as well.’”
Ukrainian Christian,Tatiana Gumenyuk, fully realizes the implications of the Russian invasion of her home country. She realizes that, because of the bloodthirsty ambitions of Russian President Vladmir Putin, her life and the lives of her friends and family may never be the same again. But whatever happens, Gumenyuk says, she knows that God is in control and that she is ready to meet Jesus at any time.
Gumenyuk explained, “I am very peaceful and calm, even with the bombs exploding here. I want everyone to know that you only need Jesus. Nothing else satisfies like He can. The church here is strong and it is vibrant. The Protestant movement in Ukraine is probably the largest in Europe. It is crucial for Christians around the world to continue to pray for not only the church in Ukraine but for the Ukrainian people and also the people and leaders of Russia. I could be hanged in a few days for these words. I’ve lived through communism, and I don’t want to live through it anymore. I’m willing to die for my faith. Every one of us is ready to fight and die for Ukraine. I’m not scared to die. I’m ready to go with Jesus at this very minute.”
Valery Antonyuk, president of the Ukrainian Baptist Union, quoted Psalm 23 in a video message and urged the world to pray, saying prayer is “our weapon in times of war.”
In a moving scene on live TV, CNN’s Clarissa Ward captured footage of a small group of Ukrainians kneeling to pray in a city square in Kharkiv in the freezing cold. As these Ukrainians are driven to their knees in prayer we should join them. Pray for safety for the people of Ukraine, that residential areas would not be targeted, and that God would comfort those who are afraid. Among adults, 78% of Ukrainians are Christian; pray that their faith would be strengthened to withstand this trying time.
World leaders bear the responsibility to respond to this crisis and the choices they make even in the next few days could shape the course of history. Pray that they would have wisdom as they make decisions regarding sanctions, military support, and other means of deterring Russia and supporting Ukraine.
Ukrainian church leaders will need to lead their congregations with wisdom and courage. The possibility of a refugee crisis becomes even more likely during a war, and churches and Christian ministries will inevitably be at the forefront, providing spiritual and material help to the displaced and hurting. Pray that God would prepare and equip those ministries to aid those in need.
Also, pray for a change of heart for Putin and Russian leaders, that they would turn from war, choose peace and end this madness before it erupts into something much greater…like WW111.
Christians are called to the front lines of this spiritual battle, a conflict we can win only on our knees. Will you join others and wage war on yours today?