Voice of Ukraine

From Jamie Peipon (Day 469):

What you’re seeing in this picture is the Kherson Oblast in southern Ukraine that is underwater because russia blew up the Nova Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant. The fact that the area, including people’s homes, is flooded is terrible. But that’s not even half of the consequences. Many lives have been lost. In addition, experts have called this the largest ecological catastrophe in Europe for decades. It is almost as if they are doing their best to not pour salt in the wound by saying the bitter truth: it is likely the largest ecological catastrophe in Europe since Chornobyl. Despite that, some seem to be confused about who blew the dam. Let me build a case.

First: Experts have said that the dam could not have been destroyed to this magnitude with a missile strike. It would require precise placement of explosives with far greater explosive force than what any conventional missile could do. Russia has occupied the area in which the dam is located since the beginning of the war. Since the moment Ukraine liberated the city of Kherson, there have been reports that russia had mined the dam and were threatening to blow it up. It is the russian-held side that had access to the area from which the dam could be blown.

Second: Generally speaking, if you go back and look at the official government statements since the beginning of the war, the Ukrainian government has been relatively reliable in their truthfulness. Russia has lied at every turn, starting with the fact that many still won’t say out loud that they’re actually at war. Why would we treat the statements of both of these governments as if they are equally reliable? In addition, what russia says in English for foreign consumption is very different from what they say in russian for domestic consumption. On russian state TV, presenters and guests have all but admitted it was they who blew up the dam and they are openly glad that it happened. They’ve called Ukrainians foul names and wished that they would all drown, including children. Since the dam was blown, they’ve even mused happily about what it would look like to blow up the dam holding back a giant reservoir just north of Kyiv.

Third: All of this is happening as Ukraine finally looks ready to launch their long-awaited counterattack. I have zero military experience… but even I know that advancing armies do not blow up dams and bridges to impede their own progress. Obviously, that is what armies who are on their heels and afraid of what is coming do.

Fourth: Throughout the war, Ukraine has made every effort to protect their own citizens. Russia has clearly made it a goal to terrorize citizens for 469 days. And so, I ask: Whose property is getting destroyed? Who is weeping as they watch their parents’ graves swept away in the current? Whose recently planted crops will wither and die for lack of irrigation? Who will need five years and $1 billion to rebuild the dam that was destroyed? Who has been stranded on rooftops waiting, hoping for evacuation? Ukrainians are the ones suffering as a result of this absolute catastrophe. But I also ask, what has russia done in the aftermath? It is shocking that it has hardly been reported, but the russian army is taking this opportunity to fire directly on citizens who have been gathered and are waiting at evacuation points to be rescued. There are countless videos (which I do not recommend searching out) that show this happening. Just read that again. Russia is intentionally targeting groups of regular citizens (many of them senior citizens who were resistant to evacuation sooner) as they wait at designated points to be evacuated. This is what total depravity looks like.

There is more that could be said, but let me offer a quick word on the Ukrainian counteroffensive. Some say it has started, others say we are still in the midst of preparations or “shaping operations.” I don’t think it has started at a full scale yet because I haven’t even seen a fraction of the western-donated military equipment in action. The truth is, we probably won’t actually know it has started until we have a week or so of hindsight for perspective. Let me warn you that it may not be “shock and awe.” It may not be (actually… it definitely won’t be) as fast as we want it to be. We will see images and hear reports of equipment that the West has donated that has been damaged or destroyed. There will be Ukrainian casualties. And none of that will mean that the counteroffensive is a failure. According to common military doctrine, attacking a fortified position requires a force ratio of at least 3:1. The reason is because it is hard. There will be losses. The beginning is likely to be the worst part as Ukraine attempts to breakthrough defensive lines under heavy fire, across minefields, through prepared obstacles.

All that to say… this has been a terrible week for Ukrainians. Pray for Ukraine. Pray for peace. Pray for Ukrainians. Pray for the counterattack and the safety of the Ukrainian soldiers. Pray for Ukrainians who are being awakened by air raid sirens almost every night. Pray for the Ukrainians that live among you (wherever you may be) who are crying quietly in their homes at night as they watch their friends, families, and countrymen suffer live on social media. And pray for russia… that God would suddenly and shockingly bring her and her leadership to her knees in repentance.

“I say to the LORD, You are my God;
give ear to the voice of my pleas for mercy, O LORD!
O LORD, my Lord, the strength of my salvation,
you have covered my head in the day of battle.
Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked;
do not further their evil plot, or they will be exalted! Selah”