Ukraine Prayer # 503

Ira Kapitonova
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
Psalm 136:1
It's the Leap Day! Our school has a tradition of making a time capsule to be opened next February 29. The last time they did it was right before COVID. The kids (and teachers) had no idea what would happen in the next four years. However, as a friend pointed out today, the very fact that we were alive and able to open the time capsules and create new ones today is a testimony of God's mercy and grace.
 
As my students were writing letters to their future selves, we also tried to guess what life would be like in 2028. Some thought nothing would change, but most said there would be no Crimea Bridge and no war in 2028. I even jokingly encouraged them to write about current events because Russia might stop existing as a country by 2028, so they have a chance of having unique memories. As we were joking and having fun, I also kept thinking about the sovereignty of God and how drastically our lives can change in the next 4 years.
 
When I came home and checked the news, I was surprised to see the resolution of the European Parliament that was adopted today. Among other things, it says, "Ukraine's decisive victory may lead to genuine changes in the Russian Federation, in particular deimperialisation, decolonialisation, and refederalisation, all of which are necessary conditions for establishing democracy in Russia." This is a significant statement. For the first time, an official document states what our analysts have been repeating for two years — only genuine change in Russia can give it a future. What's more important, the European Parliament realizes that Russia's defeat is crucial to this process because only Ukraine's victory can lead to much-needed decolonialisation and deimperialisation.
 
Oh, how I wish this great change for the better, when Russia becomes a truly democratic country that is not a threat to anyone, happens sooner than the next Leap Day!
 
Can we pray for Russia today. Pray for change, pray for the people of Russia who are also hurting today. Many mothers are wearing white scarves to say they have lost husbands or sons. Russia needs to be freed from years of an oppressive regime. Pray for the upcoming elections that normally don’t mean much, pray for a different outcome this year.
Al Akimoff and the Slavic Ministries Team