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Could This Be a Root of Russia’s Ukrainian Invasion?
This is an interesting piece by someone who was a correspondent in Moscow. As we pray for Ukraine and Russia, it is good to contemplate what may be driving Putin. Let us know what you think in the comments.
From Market Watch: If you walk the streets of Moscow, you will eventually smell the faint odor of gasoline.
It’s as ever-present in the air around Russia’s capital as it is central to the country’s economy, infrastructure and geopolitical posture.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has spelled out a nationalist rationale for his country’s military incursion into Ukraine, but it is primarily about protecting Moscow’s energy interests.
That was true in 2014, when Russia seized Crimea and I was a Moscow correspondent for the Wall Street Journal, for which I wrote dozens of stories about the insurgency in Donetsk and Luhansk that Russia helped foment. And it remains true now…
To understand the Kremlin’s motivations in regard to its smaller, and relatively impoverished, neighbor, the key fact to know is that Russia supplies 40% of Europe’s heating-fuel supplies — namely, natural gas…
In the Kremlin’s view, a switch of allegiance by Kiev, or Kyiv by Ukrainian preference, to the West — be it an economic association agreement with the European Union like Ukraine was on the verge of signing in 2014, or even the hint of joining NATO — is close to an act of war…
In Ukraine, meanwhile, many were growing increasingly ill at ease with the impoverished state of their country and highly corrupt political system as it languished, locked in a kind of Soviet-era limbo under Russian domination.
As Ukrainians looked to rising living standards in places like Poland and Latvia that had joined NATO and the European Union, many wondered why they couldn’t have the same for themselves…
While Ukrainians and Russians share religions and ethnicities, they speak different, albeit similar, languages, even as there are pockets of native Russian speakers in some Ukrainian regions, as there are in other former Soviet republics. And while Russians have seen their quality of life improve awash in petro-rubles in the decades under Putin’s rule, Ukrainians have been mired in poverty and bogged down by misrule.
While it is no wonder many Ukrainians yearn to be unmoored from their bigger, imperialist neighbor, for Putin and his cohort of oligarchs Ukrainian self-determination is not really on the table.
Not when it puts at risk the flow of money that has kept them in power.
How are you praying? What do you think? Share in the comments!
(Excerpt from Market Watch. Photo Credit: Getty Images)
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Comments
FATHER GOD Vladimir Putin looks so tired. Please deliver him from all evil and lead him out of temptation! Send laborers to him so he will hear the gospel of JESUS CHRIST and get saved in the NAME of JESUS! I claim him and all the world leaders to come out of evil and be delivered into the kingdom of JESUS CHRIST! Amen!
Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely! Look at Biden, Trudeau, the Premiers of New Zealand and Australia! They are all woke and part of this global reset which I bind in JESUS NAME! They are elected officials which have turned against the people that elected them; and they are all attempting to be dictators! Putin was already a dictator, but like Hitler is hungry for territory and especially the “one” (Ukraine) that got away! All of these people love money but they love power more! In Ukraine they have religious freedom and many are born again Christians or Jewish or both. In Russia, Christianity is banned and Christians have to go underground or be killed or put into prison! Putin wanted Ukrainians to look to him in the East, where both Christians and Jewish may be prosecuted; but being free they chose to look to the US and the West where people are free! Jewish people are sometimes tolerated by Putin, sometimes not. Many believe that Putin hates the president of Ukraine because he is Jewish. As for Joe Biden not issuing strong sanctions to Russia to prevent the invasion, never forget that Hunter Biden received $3.5 million to have his father Joe influence Obama when he was president on behalf of the Russians. Biden has sold out America to both Russia and China! We probably have the most corrupt group of people in power in the USA today that has Ever been in power! As far as the criticism about the United States policies in the world stage, if people don’t like how we have done business, pray, or leave the country and go live elsewhere and criticize them and see where it gets you! We are to pray about everything with prayer and thanksgiving! FATHER GOD I ask that YOU reveal YOURSELF TO Putin in the same way YOU revealed YOURSELF to Paul on the Damascus Road. Touch his heart and let YOUR LOVE flow to and then through him! Send YOUR angels to fight for and protect the Ukrainians! Please bring this invasion to an abrupt end in the NAME of JESUS!
Let YOUR Peace reign over both countries and their people in JESUS NAME! Amen!
I agree Lori…most accurate and simple summation-. in my thinking .
I would only add that of course the many many decades of previous atrocities,..forced starvation’s and etcetera.. will always add the foundation of evil resentment to a country’s, or a people’s thinking..which fuels resentments. And of course Putin’s motivations are going to be not only financial-, but the lust for world power.. And let us not forget-, that it has been presented to us-, that in the perspective of the globalist/oligarch’s that are really the one’s behind this..that Putin’s position on the world stage is merely a deterrent from drawing attention to the real enemy-, which is China..
So Lord I just agree with my sister Lori-..that believers would be protected.. in the Ukraine , and that in the case of this world leader-,named Putin, that his heart would be changed.. And that as Russia’s forces that are
guided by Putin- that are actually under the constraints of old and demonic forces.. that are fueled by resentment-and other fleshly evils.. Lord that you would move in these people’s hearts and minds to dissolve these evil influences,.. and as we pray, Lord-,that these prayers would be used by You.. in the power of the Holy Spirit- to not only change the hearts and minds of these world forces.. but also to protect the ukrainians-,who are being decimated,..Lord, women and children.. and even the men-I pray you would protect them all ..
Lord, in Jesus name, Amen
Follow up to my previous comment:
The US government and others really want us to focus on Putin and it’s really easy to have this one bad guy. Why does he do this? Why does he do that? But a better question is “who benefits” (from worldwide fear/destabilization) and/or how does Russia (Putin) describe its actions and reasons?? He has stated over and over – that a pro-West Ukraine right on the Russian border is an unacceptable situation….and in the US, we would never accept North Korea taking over Canada or Mexico. We also can see the history of Russian= 1) many attacks by foreign nations historically 2) betrayal by former allies often 3) A completely untrustworthy West/US who only wants to weaken if not destroy Russia. 4) The desire to have respect on the world stage. Etc etc….AND we do see Russia in Ezekiel 38 therefore it will be a formidable power at least until that point. Therefore- we need to be very aware that we are not speaking the words of antichrist systems or people but keep our eyes and words focused on the Gospel, the Kingdom and how we can shine in a dark time. Let’s not be the ones to choose one nation over another- it hurts the believers in that nation, who are perceived as being enemies when Americans are hostile to a particular country. (The exception is Israel- which we are commanded to love and bless always) Keep our eyes on helping the oppressed in love, across ethnic or national divisions….Let’s not be used by various governments, including our own, to sow hatred. It’s very easy to do this through offense and/or naivete.!!!YES we pray for Ukraine- it’s horrible and heartbreaking that they are being bombed…but also Russian soldiers are conscripts- and also victims who are there against their will. There are many unsaved- religious people who don’t know Jesus in a personal way in both countries…..!!! Let’s prayer bomb this situation esp for those facing imminent death!! May the Lord simply come into this situation with power, salvations and glory in this dark season.
AND while this is happening…what ELSE is happening in the world that some may not wish us to pay attention to? Let us ask Holy Spirit to show us how to see this, and how to translate what we are being shown.
I posted this on Facebook today:
It’s really important for us in the West to understand the role of trauma and of WW2 in both Russian and Ukrainian actions. Both nations suffered horrific atrocities….and you will notice how actions from that time period are frequently referenced. Russia was double crossed by Hitler and lost 26 million souls on the Eastern Front. WW2 is constantly referenced and it’s etched on the Russian soul in the same way the Holocaust is etched on the souls of its survivors.
The Ukrainians went through horror after horror – particularly at the hands of the Soviets including starvation that claimed the lives of millions.
The Russians also went through horrors through the hands of the Soviets and the Nazis. It is really impossible to underestimate the ***fear of annihilation*** both nations bring to this conflict. And both are feeling neglected/abandoned/neglected by the world community! I am not defending Russia or this attack, but hoping to bring understanding of the roots of fear, murder, trauma and terror that exist and are unhealed.
Jesus said to love your enemy! This is the only way out of bitter historic ethnic hatred. This is the Eastern European unhealed pain- ethnic division, old wounds, old hatreds, and old trauma.
Additionally- the more the world pushes Russia into a corner- the more likely it will respond with big actions that are fear based.
Both of my (Russian) ex-husband’s grandparents were killed in WW2. His parents were orphaned from this conflict. He is not alone. Perfect love casts out fear and the orphan spirit is a big issue in both nations. What happens with orphans? They join gangs…they lose empathy….people with an orphan spirit, neglect and trauma value power over people.
As we go forward- let’s guard our own hearts to not pick up offenses as we see war and other tragedies unfold. Let’s pray for the glory of God, miracles, signs and wonders to pour out on both armies, the mothers of solders, in both nations and throughout the world.
Pray for PEACE and pray against a twisting of communication that causes more hatred.
Father, touch Putin and the other leaders of Russia by your Holy Spirit. Cause a revival in Russia which will draw them to you, away from their god of money. May they humbly bow before you, acknowledging their poverty in light of you.
Father, we stand in the gap for our brothers and sisters in Ukraine as well as in Russia in these dire days. We know, because your word tells us so that you hear their prayers and you are answering. We declare to the rulers and political leaders Putin and others with him, that if they will not bow the knee with the Lord is doing in these nations that they will be removed from office. We ask that you would use these birth pains to grow up and awaken your church in Ukraine, Russia and worldwide. We asked for protection of women and children and that you would move powerfully by your Holy Spirit in the midst of these scary days.
Lord, you care for all people. Let us in America learn lessons from the Russian communist regime that is trying to take over Ukraine and other nations. Its about greed and the love of power. Let us humbly approach your throne of grace and ask for forgiveness for not remembering our brothers and sister in Ukraine and Russia and other nations. This time we see that the enemy is working to stop a revival that is starting in America and is spreading to all the world. Have you way Spirit of the living God. We pray even for our enemies to come to be saved. In Jesus’ name.
This is in my opinion is so insightful and a help in prayer from someone who has walked among the people in the city of Moscow and on the land of Russia. And is from someone who has made observations as a journalist trained in that profession. It is a further confirmation of some of our thoughts as we ministered with an indigenous missions organization. Perhaps, the church in Russia and in Ukraine, even in their poverty, needs to push in opposition in a powerful way against this greedy and covetous spirit that seems to prevail from governmental leaders. Perhaps to be encouraged in their giving although it might only be a few loaves and fishes or the widows mite. Our God can multiply- He is faithful to do so. As we give as He directs we are blessed, perhaps materially but certainly with the most important treasures. Jesus said that if we are not willing to give of that which will perish how can he trust us with the true riches(those that are eternal, those that are not eaten by moths, that rust does not destroy, and that thieves cannot steal ) . When a people have been oppressed for so many decades, may we pray God gives our precious brothers and sisters the grace and faith to generously give as the Holy Spirit directs as they push against the greedy and covetous spirit that surrounds them and seeks to rob them . And all of us ,wherever we are , need Gods grace and faith in this . Thank you for this article.
the reasons may be diverse and multifaceted and God may be revealing different issues to different intecessors to pray through. as i personally prayed about this oddly President Putin claims genocide of Russians in Donesk, which the media says is baseless but who knows, as the media also says the 2020 election fraud is baseless, yet there has been significant proof of it, so media claiming “baseless” doesnt mean it actually is, but back to Ukraine, as I prayed, oddly the genocide by Stalin of Ukrainians by starvation in the 1930s came to mind, that perhaps there is some type of evil national spirit of Ukrainian bitterness and unforgiveness that has not been laid to rest yet regarding the 1930s deliberate starvation genocide of Stalin and also that possibly Russia needs repentance or even spiritually deemed retribition of some sort for that genocide to cleanse Ukraine’s land of that bloodshed. Possibly this may be a main strong hold prayer point. Numbers 35:33 So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are: for blood it defileth the land: and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it.
I prayed if any spiritually deemed retribution is necessary to be prayed in to solve this conflict and restore peace, because this story came to mind: there was a famine in Israel that David prayed about which God revealed was due to Saul violating a covenant against Gibeionites and it took retribution against surviving members of Sauk’s family to resolve it. I know we are in the NT now but those stories remain and some natiins are still entrenched in Religion (OT) versus grace (NT) so perhaps OT spiritual issues are present in those lands and need to be prayed through and dealt with by OT means. I dont know, it sounds nutty, but bottom line the 1930s genocide clearly came to mind as I prayed so I believe it possibly needs to be prayed through to cleanse both Russia from those crimes and Ukraine of any bitterness and unforgiveness which may be the open door to this war since 2014.
also i woke from a quick dream yesterday about Putin, i saw him standing, apparently unharmed, with a fireball in his back, there was a hole in his back with a fireball, my immediate thought in the dream was thatvhe was wounded but i observed that he was standing not writhing in pain as one would be who is wounded, and immediately the “me” in the dream dropped to my knees and began to pray for him it seemed but i did not hear the prayer, i woke up immediately
Could the fireball in his back represent the past an (evil) fire of the days he mentions when Ukraine was part of Russia, perhaps he needs to be freed of a communist spirit or influence from the past which could be operating in him due to some type of spiritual gap.
so offering this prayer in case anyone wants to agree: Father these issues with Russia and Ukraine are a complicated web and only YOU and you aline can see the entire truth the underlying cause and more impotantlybtge resolutiin to restore peace to Ukraine. Father if the merciless and inhumane deliberate 1930s genocide by Stalin has any bearing on this current conflict., we ask for your spirit to pray through us for a resolution to it and any/all other issues that may be fueling this crisis. Father if there is some understandable subconscience type of generational Ukrainian distrust or bitterness toward Russians please deal with it to cleanse it immediately, especially tge believers, if more prayer is necessary, raise up your chosen intecessors to pray it tgrough according to your will. Father we pray for peace yet we know there is a time for everything including peace and a time for war so we simply trust and ask YOU to let YOUR will be done in Russia and Ukraine in Putin and Zelensky immediately as well as all national leaders involved all NATO nations who are being drawn into this, give them YOUR wisdom and discernment to make the right decisiins according to YOUR will to resolve this conflict without further loss of life or further economic suffering, but if those tbings be you will we pray overall YOUR will be dine to achieve YOUR goals of claiming the nations that are rightfully yours and bringing spiritual revival to all flesh, YOUR will be done not Putin or Biden Or any other man, in Jesus name we ask and receive all we have asked.Father in the name of Jesus if the fireball dream has any bearing help us and any/all your chosen intecessors to pray your Will through to completion quickly regarding it. Father if there are any spiritual gaps open in Putin or his advisors, any Russian or Ukrainian elite, and fellow politicians, for old evil communist spirits to influence them/him toward ukrainian aggression close those gaps we pray, cleanse their/his mind and heart of them and infuse them/him with YOUR thoughts YOUR will alone and prevent those spirits from rising up in him or any future Russian or Ukrainian leaders again. we thank you for hearing and answering our prayers
My spirit responds positively to your insights. I have not studied political science or theology, but pray for Holy Spirit revelation to intercessors and divine guidance for power elites while Angel armies carry out God’s will in the heavenly realm. I feel we intercessors are to exercise our influence on all levels at this crucial time and to pray for the saints who are directly and immediately affected.
FATHER!
I am not completely sure if this revelation is from You. I step out anyway and bring it to the front. I believe You have called myself to come on board with all of us here as Your Intercessors and right here it is THE RUSSIAN UKRAINE CRISIS. FATHER in the words of the prophets of old and yes NEW, “HERE I AM!”
I volunteered a few days ago. And only NOW what has come to me are these words “SOUL TIE.” For years since my marriage fell apart and my husband and I were LEGALLY SEPARATED (still NOT DVORCED!) we have been in and out of each others lives and “THE FIREBALL” of discontent, of bitterness and anger of past and present continue to RAGE!
In the past week or two my ex-husband has pulled out every stop he can to get my attention back onto him. We have been out of each others lives since OCT 2021 where we separated again for the time since. I ended up fobbing him off for a meetup again one last time and then caved-in to his demands. I see this SOUL TIE is still operating and it is far from GODLY on both our parts. I IDENTIFY somehow with THIS RUSSIAN UKRAINE CRISIS in very much the same way. Russia wont let go and possibly the same goes for the UKRAINE! Father is this true just as VICTORIA pointed out? These are our BITTER ROOTS at work and continuing to wreak havoc and YES TO BURN!
FATHER it is Your Will that WE your people come before You and DO the work needed beginning with HEARTFELT REPENTANCE for hanging on to our SELFISH GRIEVANCES esp. OF PAST HURTS – these BITTER ROOTS continue to SPRING UP AND DEFILE MANY (HEBREWS 12:
HELP US ABBA TO DO YOUR WILL FOR YOUR NAME’S SAKE!
THANK YOU IN YESHUA!!!
Hi, Francie, I can so relate to you, tho our circumstances are a bit different. I know for myself that it was my own decades of bitterness which not only tore down our marriage, but messed up my hormones so that I was unable to conceive. …not to say my husband did not have issues and responsibilities of his own in all of this.
But (after quite a few years of hoping he’d drive off a cliff) our blessed Good Shepherd finally brought me to a place of compassion for him.
And that’s where I am now. I’m really dead to his bitter expressions (Gal 2:20), and no longer have any interest in being dragged into any goading, belittling, etc, but just ask God how I might show His love to him, w inexpensive homemade gifts for his birthday or Christmas, and really no other contact.
I do believe reconciliation is possible – through Christ alone, but I have absolutely NO interest in it at this point. It seems that “happily ever after” vision, such as the disciples had before the crucifixion, just has to be fully released and buried (like the grain of wheat which, unless it falls into the ground and DIES, cannot bear fruit).
This is nothing I wanted to hear when our marriage fell apart almost 40 yrs ago, but I can walk in peace, and remember that love never fails, because I can see whenever a root of bitterness springs up (I am unfortunately SO familiar w its fruit…), take it to Jesus, who saves His people from their sins, and leave it there. It’s His job. Mine is only to obey Him and love my enemies.
Not quite sure how all this relates to Russia/Ukraine, but I do know that looong weed roots can have shoots that vigorously spring up in seemingly unrelated places, and they can be quite labor-intensive to untangle. But it’s necessary. Then, they can go in the compost bin and be remade into black gold to nourish other plants. Amazing work by our Redeemer, whose goal always is to restore us to Him. What mercy!
God bless you Francie, and dear Lord, please give us both grace to redeem our own wounds for Your glory, as you give us insight to pray for international reconciliation – knowing that such redemption and reconciliation is built, stone by stone, through people just like us.
Our thought for years has been that the same principality and throne that operated through Stalin(that means” man if steel”)operates upon Putin. This is definitely a battle in the heavenlies. And as we pray may we ask our Heavenly Father to send forth his Holy angels to battle the Enemy. Revelation 19:10-we are fellow servants. We don’t direct them- only our Heavenly Father does that. But we can ask Him to send them forth in this battle. And we battle on our knees. And so we work together in advancing the kingdom of God ! Matthew 6:33
Yes there is a point here. There was at one instance of an atrocity that was widely reported on Russian news, my Russian ex always brings it up- where Russians in Ukraines put into a barn and then the barn was set on fire. This happened possibly in 2014. Yes there are some atrocities because the hatred runs deep (as does the fear) and when the world dismisses ethnic Russians concerns – it pushes Russia to feel it must defend itself. There is a lot of “bad blood here” and we need intercessors and leaders in Russian and Ukraine to publicly forgive each other- in order to move past murder, bloodshed, hatred, and division. Crimes were committed that do fuel this.
I hope our brothers and sisters can catch on to “Father forgive them- they don’t know what they are doing” as they process their history with the other group. White nationalism does exist in both countries- it’s a poverty and identity issue and then leads members to scapegoat other groups. This is why many Jews needed to leave Russia, and why the Neo-Nazi problem is able to find root in Ukraine (and parts of Russia). They call it hooliganism but it’s a real serious problem for any ethnic group targeted. I’m bi-racial and have seen this in Russia and Ukrainian communities. (Scary baseless xenophobia of other groups)
May the truth behind this tension be revealed and may righteous and just solutions be found that do not involve war. May they look to God to supply their needs and not the exploitation of people or other natons. God’s will be done and His kingdom come in Russia (and all communist countries) so the one true God can be worshiped, honored, glorified and exhalted there.
I believe that the Democratic party is involved in this mess. Let peace rule in their hearts and turn their love for money and power to a love for God and His ways.
I believe that there is a higher precedence than money and riches. I believe that it is ‘control’. The power to control others and their resources, and God’s creation began with Lucifer – I will be like God. This same principle is replicating in many of our leaders – who are supposed to represent the people – but tend to have their own agenda. An un-surrendered heart cannot very well be a servant.
This reminds me that God used pagan leaders and nations to deal with Israel’s sin. You won’t hear this on most of our news outlets, but I just heard that Putin just destroyed 7 of the 11 US Dept. of Defenses Bio weapon labs in Ukraine. These labs were making man made viruses like COVID 19 with our tax dollars. If this is so, God is using Putin to destroy evil intentions. Father, we give you thanks and praise for continuing to expose and destroy the evil purposes of Satan. In Jesus Name…Amen!
Give thanks to the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
Thank you Daddy God.
In His Name, Amen.