In 2012 and again in 2018, Dallas and I travelled to Russia. The first time we journeyed by boat from St Petersburg to Moscow and the second time from Moscow to Astrakhan which is on the Caspian Sea. The other day I found out that one of the cities we visited in 2018, Saratov, has an airbase which is instrumental in Russia’s war against Ukraine. Ukraine has, in turn, been targeting the Saratov airbase in retaliation. I was very much ‘taken-a-back’ to think that less than 5 years ago, I was visiting that area in complete safety.
I also listened to a podcast the other day on Trauma Therapy for Children in Ukraine. The Ukrainian region of Zaporizhzhia has been a battleground for months now, it’s the target of Russia’s newest offensive. Fighting there could be about to get a lot worse. Ukrainian forces are readying a defence, but the war effort in this part of south-eastern Ukraine involves more than fighting back on the frontlines.

Dr Natalya Mosol is a psychologist, and for the past year, she’s been working with people who have seen the worst of the war. These people, which includes children, wake up every day with the knowledge that there is a big chance that they might be killed before the day’s end.
Almost one year ago, on 24 February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine in a major escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War, which began in 2014. The invasion has caused tens of thousands of deaths on both sides and Europe’s largest refugee crisis since World War II.

Unfortunately, we still have plenty to pray for.

Light a candle, as a visible sign of the light of Christ, who is the light of the world.
Take a deep breath. Feel the breath of God that has given you life.
Centre yourself and pray in your own words, for an end to this terrible war.