Russia’s increasing predations in other former Soviet states fully manifested in the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The invasion was preceded by years of meddling in Ukrainian politics and seizing Ukrainian territory. Other nations in the region have also felt Russia's heavy hand in years past. Russia is a proud nation with a rich but often tragic history. For centuries, it was systematically plundered by those who held sway, from the Mongols to the Tsars to the Communists to the oligarchs. The state’s propaganda machine plays into this history by projecting both victimization and triumphalism. Hundreds of thousands of young lives spent, hundreds of thousands others having fled the country, exacerbate an already grim demographic future for Russia. When you add to this the countless billions spent, and a tattered global reputation, recovery may take generations – if it comes at all.
- For the sake of Russia, its neighbours, and the world, pray for peace, transparency, and truth to prevail in a nation where all three have been in short supply.