Build-up of Russian arms and military posturing

Much has changed in the last three weeks. The recent build-up of Russian arms and military posturing has turned into a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Battalions from the north, east and south have crossed borders and begun pressing into the centre of the country. Major towns and cities are gradually becoming isolated and cut off.

Whatever aims Vladimir Putin has for Ukraine the position today is grim however one looks at it. Many Russian soldiers seem to be caught in a war they do not understand, puzzled by orders to fight close neighbours, and surprised by the stiff resistance they are meeting, which does not tally with the story of being welcomed as liberators. Ukrainian civilians caught in the bombardments are losing homes, their freedom and in some cases their lives. Families are being torn apart as women and children flood west to escape and men stay to fight. Ordinary civilians in Russia are now facing economic hardship as sanctions take effect and the rest of the world looks on, uncertain how to act in the face of such aggression and worried about the effects on their own economies.

Those privileged to view these developments from the pages of scripture are not surprised by what Russia has done. Since the time when Ezekiel and the prophets warned Israel that a warring host

“from the uttermost parts of the north with all his hordes” (Ezekiel 38:6, ESV)

would move south, it has long been anticipated that Russia would become an aggressor nation in the last days. So the prophecies are coming to pass, which is comforting, but we are saddened by the heartache, distress and suffering that is being incurred as a consequence. Christ warned that

“wars and rumours of wars”

would be a sign of his coming, and reassures believers by telling them, “Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near” (Luke 21:28, ESV).

Let Isaiah’s familiar words be our encouragement:

“He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” (Isaiah 2:4, ESV)

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Preceding

Russia choose to start a war

Watch Crisis in Crimea & Ukraine – talk from 2014!

Prayer for 2022 March 06: Asking for Strength by the Russian-Ukrainian war

Russia-Ukraine war: Putin lays waste to cities

Some out of date from our Ukrainian brethren

Our Ukrainian brothers and sisters who got over the border

Special prayer request for Ukrainian sister Anna

Surrounded by war crimes performing Russians

Worldwide Call to Prayer for Brethren in Ukraine and Russia

Prayer for March 2022: We pray, above all, for peace throughout the world.

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Additional reading

1. What is the point of saying ‘never again’ for 80 years
2. USSR – USA – Cold-, Hot Wars and memorandi
3. Cold War over and back again to bring a war in Ukraine as the end of the liberal world order
4. The one who claimed he was not planning an invasion in Ukraine
5. Lisa Rozner reports how Russian troops have begun moving into Ukraine
6. Key Facts About Ukraine and the Russian invasion
7. Zelenskiy: Russia aims to obliterate Ukraine
8. Last week: It became a fact: Russia invades Ukraine
9. Last week’s saying about Russia signing decrees ordering military forces into two separatist regions of Ukraine for “peacekeeping” purposes
10. The biggest ground offensive in Europe since World War II
11. Looking at a “Man from the North” endangering the world
12. The First Great Information War 
13. The moral failure of considering Ukraine for NATO
14. What are Russia’s four key demands it wants Ukraine to follow?
15. The judgement of posterity will determine whether invading Ukraine was wise or a mistake
16. Churches as Waystations on the Refugee Road from Ukraine
17. Go Ahead. Pray for Putin’s Demise.
18. Anno 2022, Neutrality or action
19. No one can split Ukraine they say
20. Ukraine keeps standing strong despite Russian predictions
21. Ukraine has proven to be a self-confident nation
22. People in Ukraine standing up to Russian troops – BBC News
23. No-fly zone needed over Ukraine to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe 
24. Restrictions in Russia because of sanctions from the West for peace mission in Ukraine.
25. Cool hand Vlad or Crazy Ivan?
26. Putin puts Russia’s nuclear force on high alert
27. Trade surpluses vs Most sweeping set of sanctions ever aimed at a country since World War 2
28. Sanctions are crippling the economy of ‘Fortress Russia’
29. The invasion of Ukraine is personal for me…as it is for many of us
30. A boy who travelled more than 600 miles alone from Ukraine to Slovakia
31. Thoughts from a Ukrainian refugee
32. A letter from Kyiv
33. Tied together in this nightmare
34. Overcoming The Terror Of War
35. The Telegraph looking at the last week of February 2022
36. Russian invasion of Ukraine enters seventh day – BBC News
37. US insight from the Independent for the first week of March 2022
38. The first week of March 2022 looked at by the Guardian
39. Ukraine From March the 4th up to now
40. Some highlights of the invasion of Ukraine March 9-16
41. Ukraine Crisis Reading List
42. Despicable actions that endanger entire regions and historical monuments in addition to citizens
43. Will the Russian War in Ukraine reset World diplomacy?
44. Hundreds of Russian Pastors Oppose War in Ukraine
45. Нет войне
46. Нет войнe. No war
47. Praying For The Victims Of Ukraine

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