The Associated Press (“AP News”) is reporting that Russia launched 122 missiles and a score of drones against multiple Ukrainian targets overnight, killing at least 22 civilians in what has been described as the biggest aerial barrage of the war.
Ukrainian Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk wrote on his official Telegram channel that it was “the most massive aerial attack” since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. Ukraine reportedly intercepted most of Russia’s ballistic and cruise missiles, and the Shahed-type drones overnight.
According to British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, this huge attack should stir the world to further action in support of Ukraine, stating that “[t]hese widespread attacks on Ukraine’s cities show [that Russian President Vladimir] Putin will stop at nothing to achieve his aim of eradicating freedom and democracy. We must continue to stand with Ukraine — for as long as it takes.”
The AP News report may be read HERE.
DISCLAIMER — The Following Contains Political Commentary.
Ukraine is a sovereign country under direct threat of extinction and suffering attacks against it military, infrastructure and the civilian population every day. Imagine if you (instead of them) went to bed every night wondering if this was the night that a missile would come crashing through your bedroom window?
If one examines a global map, it becomes apparent that Russia doesn’t “need” more land, but is choosing to wear down and make an example of Ukraine to bolster President Vladimir Putin’s totalitarian control over Russia’s communist government and its citizens, with the goal of bringing power and perceived glory to himself in defiance of NATO’s establishment (albeit against the former USSR) following WWII. It may be 2023, but Putin still lives in the mid-20th Century.
How quickly we forget, or at least forget to appreciate, what the U.S. and its citizens suffered, spent and sacrificed for decades to end the Cold War – including the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of the USSR. Then again, we seem to be living in an age where history isn’t guiding our decision making anymore, as so many also seem to have forgotten the plight of the Jews during the Holocaust of WWII – with antisemitism globally on the rise once again. The Jews are God’s chosen people (see Deuteronomy 7:6).
Regardless of one’s political leanings, life isn’t always so simple as to say, “well, we have problems right here in our own country, so why support the leader of Ukraine?” Life isn’t a matter of one mutual exclusivity followed by the next mutual exclusivity. “If this then that” thinking is often far too simplistic and can sometimes be dangerous, geopolitically speaking. We rush to let emotions and our personal politics drive our decision-making and points of view, but there are few things less reliable in the “big picture” than employing unbridled emotions and ungodly my-way-or-the-highway ideologies when establishing or voting for public policy.
When citizens of a free country clearly blessed of God choose to seek the wisdom of the world (see 1 Corinthians 3:19), political ideologies, and self-seeking emotionality as the answer to all of life’s issues before seeking the Lord (see Proverbs 3:5-6), treating God as “the option of last resort,” then trouble is around the corner or already upon us.
My brothers and sisters, let’s not grow weary or place an inordinate amount of faith in politicians and civil governments. Civil government is by its very nature a direct reflection of its citizens, and we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (see Romans 3:23). Civil government is at its best when its leaders are god-fearing men and women who have the mind of Christ (see 1 Corinthians 2:16)! There is a reason why abortion, sexual immorality and all sorts of affrontery is perceived by many in modern society as being acceptable or even encouraged, when our elected and appointed leaders are not operating in the wisdom and love of Christ (see James 1:5 and 1 John 4:7-8).
Pray! Pray for the end of Russian hostilities. Pray for God’s healing of the lands of Russia and Ukraine (see 2 Chronicles 7:14), and all of the nations of the world suffering directly or indirectly as a result of this evil. Pray for the healing of the men, women and children of Ukraine – and yes, for Russian families, as the untold losses of Russian soldiers in this war is reportedly huge, with parents losing their children with no say-so over what Putin orders – as Russia is a full-on communist country led by a KGB-trained executive.
Here are the above-referenced scriptures:
Deuteronomy 7:6 (NKJV)
“For you [the Jews] are a holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth.”
1 Corinthians 3:19 (NLT)
“For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God. As the Scriptures say, ‘He traps the wise in the snare of their own cleverness.’”
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV)
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, [a]nd lean not on your own understanding; [i]n all your ways acknowledge Him, [a]nd He shall direct your paths.”
Romans 3:23 (NKJV)
“…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…”.
1 Corinthians 2:16 (Amplified Bible)
“For who has known the mind and purposes of the Lord, so as to instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ [to be guided by His thoughts and purposes].”
James 1:5 (NKJV)
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”
1 John 4:7-8 (NKJV)
“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.”
2 Chronicles 7:14 (NKJV)
“…if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
Praise Jesus forevermore!
Most American Christians say the Bible doesn’t influence their views on Israel