Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine has ripped through the world, causing widespread fear and anger.
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine Feb. 24, Campus Pastor Jonathan Falwell spoke to Liberty students at Convocation Feb. 25.
“We live in a crazy world today,” Falwell said. “We live in a world that is out of control and we’ve seen over these last 24-36 hours the fragility that is taking place in Ukraine and Russia, the dangers we are seeing and how so many people are under bombardment by the Russian military. And we’ve seen the fear that is pictured in newspapers and on websites of Ukrainian citizens that are hiding, that are living in metro stations to get away from the bombing that is taking place. It’s a tough, tough time not just in that region, but it’s a tough season in our world. We live in a dangerous world.”
Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, has been under aerial bombardment. The city is still controlled by Ukraine, but Russian ground troops are moving in to try to take the city.
Russian forces seized the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, the site of the infamous nuclear accident in 1986. Troops also advanced through the Donbass region and through Crimea, a former peninsula of Ukraine that Russia annexed in 2014.
The invasion resulted in stern condemnation from nearly every country in the United Nations. In addition, corporations have boycotted Russia. Sporting events have been moved from Russia to other nations and companies like Virginia ABC announced they would remove all Russian-sourced vodka brands.
Falwell asked for students to pray for Russian citizens, noting that many were horrified and firmly against the government’s actions.
He introduced LUPD officer Illona Penner, a native of Ukraine. Penner’s family remains in Ukraine currently, and one of her cousins is on the front lines of the resistance.
Falwell led the campus in prayer over the entire conflict.
Liberty’s Office of Spiritual Development held a special prayer time later that day from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Worley Prayer Chapel where LU Shepherds and students on campus prayed for the people of Ukraine.
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