Russia (MNN) — Could an invasion of Ukraine be imminent? Reuters reports Russia is massing tanks and other heavy armor at the Russia/Ukraine border. Photos of trainloads of tanks and convoys of other military vehicles in the region were seen on Web sites yesterday. One reporter noted that Russian insignias have been removed.
(Image courtesy of Mission Eurasia)
President of Mission Eurasia Sergey Rakhuba says their partners on the ground are concerned. But this is nothing new.
What about the ceasefire agreement? “Most of the networks were not reporting on it because there were crises in other parts of the world. The ceasefire was never followed. We know that there were still lots of casualties.”
This isn’t the only disturbing news. Russia has also passed legislation restricting freedom. Rakhuba says the first law puts more teeth to the law calling organizations who receive funding from outside Russia “foreign agents.” However, a new law was ratified. Rakhuba says it’s called, “Undesirable NGOs in Russia. If they decide they are undesirable, they don’t need to go to court; an administrative order can be [used] to kick them out of Russia.”
(Listen to the full interview with Sergey Rakhuba here)
This could jeopardize all organizations, Christian or non-Christian, in Russia. Why is Russia doing this? “Russia is building up the tools to stand against any western influence in Russia,” Rakhuba says.
“God gave us a second chance, and now our children are smiling again,” was the response of Sasha and Lena when School Without Walls students from Kiev visited the family with groceries, Gifts of Hope, and Scriptures. The family evacuated from Alchevsk, in Eastern #Ukraine, due to the fighting. They had to leave their life behind and are now struggling to earn enough to put food on the table.
(Mission Eurasia Photo)
These laws, coupled with a massive propaganda machine that’s using radio, television, internet–including social media, are plunging Russia into something not seen since the Soviet Union.
We asked Rakhuba if this is what it was like during the days of the former Soviet Union. “I would say even probably worse. Under the Soviet Union, [citizens] didn’t really believe the Kremlin. [Today] 85- 87% (that’s what the polls show us) whole-heartedly support Putin and the Kremlin.”
Today, there are still 1.2 million internally displaced people in Ukraine. These people have been displaced because of the fighting between the two nations.
According to Rakhuba, while the propaganda is pitting Christians in Russia against Christians in Ukraine, the conflict is having a positive impact on the church in Ukraine. Why? Because the churches are providing hope through Mission Eurasia’s I-Care Refugee Program. I-Care provides food, clothing, shelter, counseling, and most importantly, God’s Word.
Rakhuba tells us word gets around, especially those in the conflict zone. “Those who got trapped [by the fighting], they go to churches. They are opening their hearts for more relationships with Christians. We’ve noticed–we’ve already done some analysis and research–that the church is growing tremendously in those areas.”
Rakhuba says those 1.2 million people still need your support. As you get involved in Mission Eurasia’s I-Care Refugee Program, you’re providing the tools to reach into a hurting heart with food, love, and the Gospel.
If you’d like to support the work of Mission Eurasia, click here.
