INVASION ANNIVERSARY

 

 

 

February 24 marks the third anniversary of Russia's INVASION of UKRAINE in 2022. Though Ukraine has won many battles, the war for Ukraine’s right to exist as an independent, democratic nation rages on at a very steep cost. 

The U.S. has supported Ukraine—but now, the new U.S. administration has ended the support. How can we help support Ukraine, find an end to this death and destruction, and get the Russians to withdraw? At present it looks like prayer is  the only answer, and as European leaders meet to try and determine the next step in this mess, we can only pray for a peaceful solution.

This invasion was a violation of international law, breaking 75 years of peace in Central Europe.  Many felt Kyiv would fall in a week and the army would collapse, while President Volodymyr Zelensky would flee, abandoning his people. But the Russian tyrant miscalculated the strength, tenacity and bravery of the Ukrainian people, holding off the world’s third largest army for 3 years.

Russia has paid the price with sanctions which have led to economic problems, which is nothing compared to the loss of lives. More than 850,000 have been killed and wounded while a million men have fled the country to avoid military service. Russia has now reverted to using convicts, mercenaries, and North Korean troops to continue this war.

President Zelensky said that between 300,000 and 350,000 Russian soldiers have been killed in the war compared to 43,000 Ukrainian soldiers killed.  Western officials estimate that Moscow is losing an average of 1,500 men, killed and wounded, every day. One has to remember that the Russian soldiers are not defending their own homeland, but rather fight in foreign land, hence not as committed,  as they are forced into a situation most would rather not be in.

Russia’s war against Ukraine has robbed millions of Ukrainians of their previous lives which once seemed stable and predictable. Even when the war ends, how will the Ukrainians rebuild their lives?  More than 2.5 million Ukrainians have lost their homes, 5 million Ukrainians are internally displaced, and an additional 6 1/2 million have become refugees abroad. Staggering statistics!

Ukraine’s independence and democratic future is for the security of all the West.  We pray for a rapid cessation of this unjust war  which will allow the rest of Europe to breath more deeply. Right now the future does not look good. We ask our Mother of Peace to intercede!

Paintings Ukrainian artists:

Top- Olenka Zahorodnyk

Right- Mariana Mykytiuk