Message from a Ukrainian Refugee about Putin and the Russian Invasion of Ukraine

This meme was posted by my Ukrainian friend on her Facebook timeline.

Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, I’ve been very concerned about a dear Ukrainian sister in Christ, Lydia from Kyiv. I have known her since 1994. She was one of my partners in St. Petersburg, Russia, my interpreter and teammate in evangelistic work sharing the Gospel with the people of Russia. Thankfully she fled her home in Kyiv and is now safe in Poland.

I’ve been hearing different interpretations of the Russian invasion. Dr. Chuck Baldwin, a pastor I like, wrote a recent article entitled “Ukraine is not a victim” in which he is very critical of the Ukrainian government and talks about all its faults and misdeeds. And I listened to the testimonial of an American from Texas who lived in the Donbas area of Ukraine for 8 years, became a Russian citizen, and is pro-Putin and anti-Ukrainian government policies. And because the US and Western governments of the world are so anti-Russian / anti-Putin, it makes me wonder if I’m not being bombarded with another round of government propaganda. I, therefore, was very interested to hear directly from my Ukrainian friend what her views are. Below is the dialog we had:

Me: Lydia, I know this may not be a good time for you now, but I would like to hear your opinion about the Russian invasion. One man I am listening to now is an American from Texas who has lived in Donbas in eastern Ukraine for the last 8 years. He is telling me just the opposite of what western media is saying!! He says that Biden and the USA are most responsible for provoking Putin to invade to protect ethnic Russians from Nazis in eastern Ukraine.

Lydia: From my own relatives and acquaintances I know how strong and effective Russian propaganda is. I experienced friends turned into enemies because they believe what was broadcasted more than people. But the truth is people from Donbas could travel all over Ukraine freely, speak Russian, and even get Ukrainian social benefits and nobody was attacking them nor in words or by deeds. You are a smart man, but it seems to me you’ve caught some of that propaganda.

Putin is a liar. And he used the same false accusations to attack other countries as well. You might’ve known that. That video you’ve posted about what was happening in 2013, before and after is not accurate, not true. The same twisted lies they fed and keep on feeding to Russians and anybody for that matter.

If someone in power is concerned that somebody’s rights are violated (like ethnic Russians), why can’t he do it the civil way: collect the evidence and go to international court with it?

Ukrainian independence is what Putin didn’t like and you can get that message from his speeches before he started this inhuman war. By what can you justify targeted bombing of an maternity hospital, an orphanage and shootings of unarmed civilians?

Why do we had to run from our home for dear life and to become refugees now? Every day cites and towns are bombed. Every day something is destroyed in Kyiv and I check news in the morning worried sick it might be our apartment building. I just pray for my parents, sister and all my loved ones to be safe. Over 60 of my fellow Kievans were killed, 4 of them were kids.

In Ukraine people of different nationalities live together peacefully and we don’t want anyone’s territory. We want to live in peace, choose our own course without anybody dictating us what to do.

The sad truth is most Russians consider themselves superior to Ukrainians and any other nations as well. Doesn’t that resemble you something?

I’m sorry if I sound overly emotional, I actually am and some of the thoughts are hard to put into words. I didn’t want to offend you in any way, and I hope you’ll come to the right conclusions.

Me: Lydia, if you know me at all you should know that I am a truth seeker. The reason I asked you is that I value the views of people who live in Ukraine. I believe you more than the media. I am praying daily for the end of the war and the end of Putin.

I know from experience not to trust the mainstream media, and I can’t even trust alternative media. That’s why I asked you, Lydia, for your views. I do not trust any head of State, not Putin, not Biden, and not Trump either. I believe the world is under the control of the Beast of Revelation chapter 13. It’s not the future, it’s right NOW! I’m sorry if you thought I am influenced by Putin’s propaganda. I am not. I know he’s an evil man and a criminal. But so is Joe Biden, and so is probably all the American presidents since the early 20th century with the possible exception of John F Kennedy. I also know the first casualty of war is the truth. The Western media tells me Russia is committing war crimes. They also told me Iraq has weapons of mass destruction. That was proven to be a lie. You say that you know for sure that Russia is committing war crimes. Well, that’s verification for me and I will accept that. You would know better than me. And I do not trust the Beast media. I will accept your view because you say it is confirmed by many people you know, and I trust you.

And I didn’t say I believed the American who lives in Donbas, I said what he is saying is different than what Western media is saying. That’s why I wanted to hear your views. Of course, I will value the views of a person I know over a person I don’t know. Thank you for taking the time to share them with me. I am praying always for the Russian troops to withdraw from Ukraine. We know that the Devil is behind it all.

Lydia: I’ve never heard that quote before about the truth being the first casualty of more, but I like it very much because I can see how true it is. Before the war, we had online Bible classes on Sundays, but now it’s a daily prayer for Ukraine. And one of the prayers was for the truth to be evident. Thanks for your support!

Best wishes to you and Tess!