Russia Accuses Ukraine of Cross-Border Attack
The governor of Russia’s Belgorod region accused Ukraine of sending “a sabotage and reconnaissance group” across the Russia-Ukraine border on Monday to carry out an attack. During the two-day incursion, residents in towns along the border were evacuated and Russia issued a “counterterrorist operation.” The attack was the largest raid on Russian territory since the beginning of the Ukraine War.
Ukraine denied having anything to do with the attack. Ganna Malyar, Ukraine’s deputy defense minister, said Ukraine is “not waging war on foreign territories.” According to Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak, the attack was most likely carried out by Russian citizens fed up with Russia’s totalitarian government.
Later, two Russian armed dissident groups, the Freedom of Russia Legion and the Russian Volunteer Corps, claimed responsibility for the incursion.
Russia says: On Tuesday, the Russian Defense Ministry said that “the nationalist formations were blocked and destroyed by air strikes and artillery fire.” It claimed that 70 attackers were killed and at least four armored vehicles were destroyed, adding that “remnants of the nationalists were pushed back to Ukrainian territory, where they continued to be hit by gunfire until they were completely eliminated.”
Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov claimed that 12 civilians were wounded in the attack and an elderly woman died during the evacuation.
Russia released footage of captured Humvees, claiming the United States-made military vehicles were used in the raid. But evidence shows these photos were staged, likely using Humvees captured inside Ukraine at an earlier date.
How will it end? Both sides are using the incursion on Belgorod for justification. Ukraine saying the incident proves that many Russians oppose what the government is doing. Russia is labeling Ukrainians and their supporters as “terrorists” bent on destroying Russia.
As Russia’s war against Ukraine enters its 16th month, analysts remain divided about how the conflict will end. But Bible prophecy, particularly Ezekiel 38 and 39, illuminates some elements of the outcome.
Politicians, military experts and geopolitical analysts are making a range of predictions about how the war will play out. But they overlook the most important factor: What does Bible prophecy say? Prophecy says a lot about the major nations involved in this conflict. Though many details remain unclear, Scripture gives solid guiding principles that can help us understand how we should view these events and where we can expect them to lead.
From what I see in prophecy, we should expect Russia most likely to win the war and for Putin to remain its leader. However, even if Russia loses this specific war, it is conceivable that the nation could regroup and Putin could remain in power and still lead Asian nations in future wars, which means the overall prophecy in Ezekiel 38 and 39 will still come to pass.
—Gerald Flurry, Trumpet editor in chief, “The Ukraine War Will Not Start World War III!”
