Newsmax reports this morning that Ukraine used U.S. High-Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (“HIMARS”) rockets on Friday (5/31/2024) to hit targets in the Russian city of Belgorod, located 20 miles north of the Russia-Ukraine border. This follows the Biden administration’s approval for Ukraine to use certain U.S. weapons offensively within Russia.
According to Forbes and prior to Ukraine’s attack, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that “[t]his is a welcome step that will allow us now to better protect Ukraine and Ukrainians from Russian terror and attempts to expand the war.”
Both Germany and the United States have authorized the use of weapons to defend Kharkiv, whose capital city of the same name is located only 12 miles from Russia, where Russian ballistic missiles reportedly slammed into an apartment building overnight – killing at least six persons.
Ukraine’s use of HIMARS rockets in an attack within Russian drew a furious response from Moscow and warnings it could draw Russia into war with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (“NATO”). U.S. officials have anonymously stated that U.S. policy calling on Ukraine not to use American-provided Army Tactical Missile System (“ATACMS”) and other weapons to strike offensively inside Russia has not changed.
The Newsmax report may be read in full HERE.
Forbes reported yesterday (6/1/2024) that for more than two years after Russia widened its war on Ukraine, the Biden administration has maintained a ‘red line’ allowing the use of U.S. precision munitions so long as they are not used against Russian targets inside Russia.
Recent Russian strikes on Kharkiv have helped to change President Biden’s mind, following a month of indiscriminate Russian strikes which have killed many civilians and displaced thousands of residents. For example, on May 25, 2024, Russian military forces bombed a Kharkiv home-improvement store, killing 18 persons, including two children.
On Friday (5/31/2024), the White House erased its ‘red line’ and allowed Ukraine to strike offensively within Russia using U.S. weaponry – with ongoing restrictions.
The Forbes article may be read in full HERE.
As this writer has expressed many times, Western nations, and in particular the United States, have provided billions of dollars in military aid to Ukraine sufficient to prevent imminent defeat by Russia, but insufficient to assure Ukraine’s victory over Russia.
This has clearly not escaped Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is seemingly content to fight a prolonged war of attrition. Putin knows that Western nations tend to have short attention spans and are highly risk or casualty averse nowadays. He also knows that despite Russia’s less-than-stellar military efforts in the war so far, Ukraine does not have the military means to prevail against Russia absent Western military assistance.
For Russian President Vladimir Putin, this is a war of choice. Russia is a huge country full of resources, including oil & gas and minerals. This is an evil war being pursued with little to no concern for the loss of lives in Ukraine or even of its own military members. Russia suffers under the leadership of a former Soviet KGB officer seeking the destruction of Ukraine and the death of Ukraine’s elected president in an apparent effort to relive the “glory” days of the former Soviet Union — placing all NATO-aligned nations at potential risk if not unchecked.
As followers of Christ, let’s continue to pray for Ukraine, and all of the surrounding nations, asking the Lord to change hearts and to bring a just and quick end to Russia’s evil attack against the free and sovereign nation of Ukraine and its people. Let’s pray that Ukraine’s civilian and military leadership would make decisions in accord with the wisdom and the will of God. Millions of lives, both Ukrainian and Russian, face untold human suffering and are at great risk.
As the bible says:
Philippians 4:6-7 (NKJV)
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
1 Timothy 2:1-3 (ESV)
Pray for Wisdom for Those in High Positions
“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior…”.
Praise Jesus forevermore!