From Ira Kapitonova in Kyiv (Day 406):
Blessed are they who observe justice,
who do righteousness at all times!
Psalm 106:3
I think it was back in December when war analytics were making prognoses about the new campaigns of 2023. They expected a massive Russian attack when the ground would be frozen in February. However, February had relatively mild temperatures, and the Russian attack didn’t change much on the frontlines. Now, everyone is eagerly expecting the Ukrainian counteroffensive, which was “promised” for April or May. The weather surprises us once again – we had snow last week (my hometown got insane 25 cm / 10 inches of snow in the past 24 hours!) and a promise of heavy rains for the next couple of weeks. We trust God’s plan and pray He would use the weather to protect Ukraine from the enemy.
As we check the news and hope for exciting reports from the front, it is easy to grow desperate when the expected news doesn’t come soon enough. However, I remind myself that sometimes lack of change is a good sign. Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and Mariinka have been the frontline cities for almost a year, yet they haven’t fallen despite being leveled to the ground. And every day without “big news” from that direction is bought at a high price, with the blood of many courageous Ukrainian men and women. We need to remember that, especially when we grow desperate or impatient.
There was another piece of news that I almost casually dismissed yet caught myself in time. Poland has sent four MiG-29 airplanes to Ukraine, 4 more will come soon, and Poland is ready to give 6 more planes. Wow! A year ago, we were helpless against Russian bombs and missiles destroying our cities. We were begging for our skies to be shielded, but most officials would say that providing high-tech equipment, including airplanes, was off the table. A year later, Ukraine has good, highly technological air-defense systems (thanks to our allies), and now planes are underway. God is faithful and good, even when we don’t understand His timing!
Save us, O Lord our God,
and gather us from among the nations,
that we may give thanks to your holy name
and glory in your praise.
Psalm 406:47
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