A Russian Christian Perspective on the Ukrainian Crisis 

“Sergey Osokin” 

Historic Russian-Ukrainian Ties 

A strong historical bond exists between Russians and Ukrainians. Someone in nearly every Russian family was born in Ukraine, worked or studied in Ukraine, or has friends or colleagues there. Mixed Russian-Ukrainian marriages are common both in Russia and in Ukraine. The relationship stemming from centuries of common history, common Slavic roots, similar languages, and shared literary heritage does not have any analogy in North American experience. So, no wonder that most Americans do not seem to understand the very root of the conflict in Ukraine today, and no wonder it is so difficult and painful to discuss. 

Sharply Contrasting Interpretations of Ukraine, Past and Present 

Up until recently, I lived with a naive assumption that Russians and Ukrainians are, if not one nation, then at least brotherly nations that will always get on with each other thanks to common historical, cultural, and ethnic ties. The first rude awakening happened quite unexpectedly, when our Ukrainian friends implored us to stop by Kiev on our way through Ukraine so they could show us the city. Most of what I heard and learned during that tour (from well-meaning friends, mind you) was that Russians were responsible for the destruction of historical buildings on Kreschatik Street during World War II, that Russians blew up Kiev’s Dormition Cathedral,1 that holodomor [the early 1930s famine] was Stalin’s intentional genocide of Ukrainians,2 that the destruction of the Dneproges Dam by Soviet troops was at a cost of thousands and thousands of Ukrainian casualties,3 and so on. What was especially interesting is how my friends kept referring to Russian troops instead of Soviet troops, as if the Soviet army of World War II was exclusively made up of ethnic Russians. Nothing could be further from the truth. Although many of these “facts” have been exposed as falsifications, it became evident to me that a whole generation of Ukrainian youth has been raised to believe them. Another part of that upbringing has been tolerance, if not sympathy, for such odious characters as radical Ukrainian nationalists Stepan Bandera and Roman Shukhevich, who are presently seen by many young Ukrainians as heroes who were fighting for Ukraine’s independence. Now, in reaction to Russian criticism, many Ukrainians jokingly refer to themselves as Banderists, which cannot excite anything but indignation in Russians, Poles, and Jews who know and remember how many of their own were killed by these “fighters for independence.”4 

A 2009 study of history texts in the newly independent, post-Soviet republics indicates such changes in interpretation of events and personalities resulted from intentional alterations of history schoolbooks in Ukraine, alterations infused with a nationalistic perspective of history “using the image of Russia and Russians as the sworn enemy.”5 Therefore, the notion of Russia as an aggressor, so often mentioned by authors writing in the summer issue of the East-West Church and Ministry Report,6 was placed in the minds of Ukrainians well before the conflict of 2014. 

Russian Seizure of Crimea 

For the sake of objectivity, one has to admit that the actions of Russia during the Ukraine crisis have only added fuel to the flames, thus somewhat justifying the negative image of Russia in the eyes of Ukrainians. The Russian seizure of Crimea has been seen as an insult by many Ukrainians, making Russia responsible for whatever problems Ukraine might face—political, economic, and social. Some Ukrainians go so far as to claim that even the coup that resulted from Maidan protests was guided by “the hand of the Kremlin.”7 It would seem laughable if it were not so sad. From my dialogues with young Ukrainians on social media it seems that they have been given some kind of carte blanche for hatred and insults, not only toward Russian political and spiritual leaders who allegedly support what is claimed to be Russian policy in Ukraine,8 but towards all Russians.

 Being a citizen of Russia and a Christian, I cannot totally abstain from weighing in on the actions of my country and the actions of Christian leaders during the Ukrainian crisis. However, what I now express is my own subjective opinion, limited by my understanding of the situation. However, any evaluation of the present crisis should take into account the historical and current political situation in Ukraine, otherwise it will yield an unbalanced judgment. 

Charges of American Complicity in Maidan

 I strongly agree with the view that dominates in Russian society that what Ukraine underwent in 2014 was nothing short of a coup d’état. Although people demonstrating on Maidan Square were protesting against arbitrary rule, corruption, and injustice, their actions led to an unconstitutional seizure of power. Besides, there are many reasons to believe that U.S. special services were involved.9 This was true of Maidan protests in 2004 that helped strongly anti-Russian and pro-American Viktor Yuschenko come to power.10 A similar scenario seems to have been the case in the overthrow of Viktor Yanukovich in early 2014.11 In relation to Maidan demonstrations, many Russians consider a number of circumstances suspicious. First, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland openly admitted strong and sizeable financial support for Ukrainian NGOs for some obscure “build[ing of] democratic skills and institutions.”12 Second, CIA Director John Brennan paid a working visit to the new government in Kiev.13 Third, many Russians have questions about the presence of some kind of “third force” of snipers shooting at both protestors and police during the Maidan confrontation.14 Oliver Stone, a famous movie director and a researcher into U.S. foreign policy,15 noted that this strategy is similar to scenarios of coups staged by the CIA in Venezuela, Iran, Chile, and other countries.16 All in all, many Russians think it makes a lot of sense that Maidan protests and the following seizure of power were orchestrated by outside political forces seeking to replace proRussian Viktor Yanukovich.17 This is not surprising nor far-fetched, for Ukraine has long been in the sphere of U.S. geopolitical interests, a fact noted by former U.S. National Security Adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski.18 

Justifications for Russia’s Actions in Crimea 

Russia’s actions in Crimea and its possible involvement in military action in Donbas (eastern Ukraine) are understandable, taking the following into consideration: 

1. the ongoing expansion of NATO into Eastern Europe, supported and lobbied for in Ukraine by ex-president Viktor Yuschenko, ex-prime minister Yulia Timoshenko, and present Prime Minister Arseny Yatsenyuk;19 
2. the ongoing, perennial gas disputes between Russia and Ukraine in which Russia’s Sevastopol Naval Base was used as a hostage;20 and 
3. the altered, anti-Russian political course in Ukraine. It would be strange if Russian leaders had passively watched the alarming political changes in Ukraine facing the imminent prospect of losing its main base for the Russian Black Sea fleet, and having NATO forces stationed just a few dozen miles from Russian borders. 

Additional Criticism of Maidan 

Unfortunately, we have to admit that the five billion dollars invested by the U.S. in the development of democratic institutions in Ukraine did not help to build a democratic and civil society there. On the contrary, this funding resulted in a dramatic imbalance of political powers, economic chaos, and civil war.21 Naturally, the degree of Ukrainian civic action and organization that came out to Maidan is impressive. Ukrainian activitists believe that they managed to break the corrupted system of Yanukovich and to elect a government that may truly reverse the life of the country.22 However, if we look at the incompetence of the present government in managing the national economy,23 as well as domestic policy,24 we cannot but question whether or not Ukrainians followed the right path in electing its present government. Basically, one set of oligarchs has replaced another set of oligarchs. The question is: did the present leaders use the good will of the people to come to power? 

Russia’s Actions in Ukraine: Questionable or Justifiable?

 I am not sure that Russian actions during the Ukrainian crisis are commendable from an ethical or legal point of view. The shift in Crimean jurisdiction, although enthusiastically approved by local residents, was not in accordance with existing international agreements.25 And if we see the beginning of the military conflict in Donbas, not as ‘anti-Maidan’ (that is as an expression of eastern Ukraine’s disagreement with an unconstitutional seizure of power in Kiev),26 but as an action directly inspired and supported by Russia (as Ukrainian media argues), then it needs to be condemned. Russia’s actions are understandable as a reaction of a large state to infringements upon its geopolitical interests and as a threat to the existing system that ensures security of the Eurasian region. Yet, on the other hand, intrusion into the affairs of a foreign country cannot be justified either from the point of view of international law, or from the point of view of morality. 

Media Bias 

Now, the word if in the paragraph above is very characteristic of the position of Russians who try to be objective in discussing the Ukrainian crisis. However, it is evident that both Russian and Ukrainian media are biased in their portrayal of the present situation in Ukraine, with an “information war” being waged in both countries.27 Thus, truth about the situation in Ukraine can only be obtained by dismissing fake and misleading information, by searching hard for independent reports and investigations, and by listening to first-hand witnesses. Nevertheless, Ukrainian believers keep pressing their Russian fellow believers to condemn Russian actions. From the point of view of Ukrainian media, it is not civil war in Donbas, but rather antiterrorist forces fighting “separatists” supported by the Russian army. In contrast, most Russians believe civil war is the case in Donbas, where local militiamen and Russian volunteers defend the Russian-speaking population of eastern Ukraine from genocide being carried out by the army of the unlawful Ukrainian government. 

Should Christians Partake of Politics? 

Christians find themselves in the most difficult position in this ideological debate because they belong to two worlds: one that says that violence can never be justified, and the other that says standing for justice is patriotic and comes at a very high cost. Although Ukrainian Christians debate the advisability of church involvement in politics, it appears that most Ukrainian believers have fallen into the temptation of mixing faith and politics. They claim that Christian values should translate into support for Ukraine’s “national identity,”28 which inevitably implies fighting for Ukraine’s independence from Russia.29

As for Russia, most Christian denominations try not to involve themselves in political matters.30 Nevertheless, among lay believers, some speak radically and passionately against “the Banderian junta” while ever-pessimistic liberals criticize church leaders for their lack of resolution and their loyalty to the state. At least some Christians in Ukraine and Russia hold a third position that rejects blackand-white judgments. These believers strive to be in the world but not of the world (John 17: 15-16), are quick to listen, and are slow to speak and show wrath (James 1: 19). Believers holding this most difficult position are the ones who understand that all authority comes from God, not in the sense that any government should be unconditionally supported, but in the sense that, as the old wise proverb says, every nation has the very government it deserves. 

Christian Charity toward Refugees 

Both Russians and Ukrainians have a heritage of Christian values, and the most important of these is the ability to show compassion and unconditional forgiveness.31 Despite war, people have remained people. Both Russians and Ukrainians have demonstrated their readiness to help refugees who have suffered from military action. Many have opened their homes to relatives who fled from eastern Ukraine or have provided jobs to refugees. People continue to donate money, clothing, and medicine. For instance, with the help of Ukrainian volunteers such as Father Zakharia Krestyuk, a great deal of humanitarian aid has been collected for people in the Donbas region, and some stereotypes, for example, “people in eastern Ukraine are all separatists,” have been challenged.32 Thanks to the actions of Elizaveta Glinka, better known as Doctor Liza, sick and wounded children from the eastern Ukraine war zone now receive treatment in the best clinics in Russia. She says that in Russia even the poor and the elderly are eager to donate what little they have to help those who have suffered in eastern Ukraine.33 

Overcoming Nationalism

 I hope that the crisis and the military conflict in Ukraine will soon be over, and that someday Russia and Ukraine will once again be able to live in peace with each other. Unchecked nationalism erects barriers that only Christ can overcome (Ephesians 2: 13-15; Galatians 3:28; Colossians 3:11). Thus, the main job for Russians and Ukrainians, especially those who are Christians, is to learn to see people beyond the labels of separatist “terrorists” or Ukrainian “fascists.” We need to distance ourselves from propaganda, political differences, and ambitions and remember how valuable each person is in the eyes of God. Only then can Russians and Ukrainians see that, despite these trying times, what we have in common is greater than our differences and divisions.

Notes: 

1. For a detailed account of the actual story, see E. Kabanets, “Pochemu byl razrushen Uspensky sobor Kievo-Pecherskoy lavry [Why Was the Dormition Cathedral of the Kiev Monastery of the Caves Destroyed?],” Den, 28 September 2012; http://www.day.kiev.ua/ru/article/ukraina-incognita/pochemu-bylrazrushen-uspenskiy-sobor-kievo-pecherskoy-lavry. 
2.  M. Berdnik, “Golod 33-go: plyaski na kostyakh, Yuschenko, Gitler, natsizm i genotsid [The Famine of ’33: Dancing Upon the Bones, Yuschenko, Hitler, Nazism, and Genocide],” RIA Novosti Ukraine, 19 November 2014; http://rian.com.ua/ analytics/20141119/359726812.html. See also Douglas Tottle. Fraud, Famine, and Fascism: The Ukrainian Genocide Myth from Hitler to Harvard (1987); : http://rationalrevolution.net/ special/library/tottlefraud.pdf. 
3. The myth is exposed in “Vzryv Dneproges v 1941 godu. Razvenchanie mifa [Blowing Up of Dnyeproges in 1941. Exposing the Myth],” Russky Mir Zaporozhya, 14 November 2013; http://rusmirzp.com/2013/11/14/category/history/40097.
4. A. Voitsekhovsky, Zh. Dygas, and G. Tkachenko, Bez prava na reabilitatsiyu [With No Right to Rehabilitation], 2 volumes. Kyiv: Kyiv Historical Society, 2006; http://www.ukrstor.com/ ukrstor/bezpraya-kniga1-x.html.
5.  A. Danilov and A. Filippov, Osveschenie obschey istorii Rossii i narodov postsovetskikh stran v shkol’nikh uchebnikakh istorii novykh nezavisimykh gosudarstv [Perspective on the Common History of Russia and the Peoples of Post-Soviet Countries in Schoolbooks on History in the New Independent States] (Moscow: 2009); http://www.nlyp.ru/reports/doclad_hist_02_ light.pdf. One may assume that this study is biased, but I have personally witnessed this hostile attitude toward Russia not only in the case of friends from Kiev but among my younger relatives and acquaintances in Ukraine and students in Ukrainian secondary schools.
6. East-West Ministry and Church Report 22 (Summer 2014); http://www.eastwestreport.org;pdfs/R22-3.pdf.
7.  R. Chaykovsky, “Maydan inspiriroval ne Zapad, a Putin [Maydan Was Inspired Not by the West but by Putin],” Ukrain’ska Pravda, 26 March 2014; http://www.pravda. com.ua/rus/columns/2014/03/26/7020256/. Some go as far as to connect the recent terrorist attack in France to Putin’s politics. See S. Klimovsky, “Putin obyavil voynu Evrosoyuzu [Putin Declared War on the EU],” Hvilya.net, 9 January 2015; http://hvylya.net/analytics/geopolitics/putin-obyavil-voynuevrosoyuzu.html. 
8.  This is my personal conclusion from multiple discussions with people in social networks. You may watch the video and read the comments of Ukrainian viewers to draw your own conclusions: “Portnikov pro neobhidnist’ rozmovi Patriarkha Kirila z ‘diyavolom’ [Portnikov on the Necessity of a Talk between Patriarch Kirill and ‘the Devil’]; 10 January 2015; https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=WjBxXxjKpSE#t=62.
9. George Friedman, “Thoughts from Ukraine,” McAlvany Weekly Commentary, 30 April 2014; http:// mcalvanyweeklycommentary.com/april-30-2014-dr-georgefriedman-thoughts-from-ukraine/. 
10.  I. Traynor, “US Campaign behind the Turmoil in Kiev,” The Guardian, 26 November 2004; http://www.theguardian.com/ world/2004/nov/26/ukraine.usa.
11.  M. Ames, “Pierre Omidyar Co-funded Ukraine Revolution Groups with US Government, Documents Show,” Pandodaily, 28 February 2014; http://pando.com/2014/02/28/pierreomidyar-co-funded-ukraine-revolution-groups-with-usgovernment-documents-show/. See also W. Enghdal, “Ukraine Protests Carefully Orchestrated: The Role of CANVAS, USFinanced “Color Revolution Training Group,” Global Research Centre on Research on Globalization, 16 March 2014; http:// www.globalresearch.ca/ukraine-protests-carefully-orchestratedthe-role-of-canvas-us-financed-color-revolution-traininggroup/5369906; and N. Ahmed, “Ukraine Crisis is About GreaPower Oil, Gas Pipeline Rivalry,” The Guardian, 6 March 2014; http://www.theguardian.com/environment/earth-insight/2014/ mar/06/ukraine-crisis-great-power-oil-gas-rivals-pipelines. 
12.  Victoria Nuland, “Remarks at the U.S.-Ukraine Foundation Conference,” U.S. Department of State: Diplomacy in Action, 18 December 2013; http://www.state.gov/p/eur/rls/rm/2013/ dec/218804.htm. 
13.  D. Jackson, “White House: Brennan Was in Kiev This Weekend,” USA Today, 14 April 2014; http://www.usatoday.com/ story/theoval/2014/04/14/obama-john-brennan-kiev-russiaukraine-jay-carney/7705755/. 
14. See an interview with Alexander Skipalsky, ex-chief of Ukrainian Intelligence Head-Office G. Korba, “Yesli by vlast’ kontrolirovala situatsiyu, u nas ne bolo by stol’ko zhertv [If the Government Controlled the Situation, We Wouldn’t Have So Many Casualties],” Kommersant-Ukraine, 21 February 2014; http://www.kommersant.ru/doc/2413426. 
15.  See Oliver Stone, Untold History of the United States 12 January 2015; http://www.untoldhistory.com/#about. 
16.  O. Stone Facebook post, 30 April 2014; 13 January 2015; https://www.facebook.com/TheOliverStone/ posts/901387646552202. 
17.  Ukrainian officer, Vladimir Ruban, who participated in Maidan confrontations, also argues Maidan was managed by some outside forces. See A. Shariy, “Interview with Vladimir Ruban,” Part 1 (from 17:58 forward), 29 December 2014); : http://sharij.net/9198. A pastor in Bishkek, a firsthand witness to the so-called Tulip Revolution in Kyrgystan in 2005, believes President Obama openly admitted U.S. involvement in the Ukrainian coup: “US Sticks to Tried and True Policy of Supporting Coups,” Sputnik International, 2 February 2015; http://sputniknews.com/analysis/20150202/1017649839.html. 
18.  “Ukraine, a new and important space on the Eurasian chessboard, is a geopolitical pivot because its very existence as an independent country helps to transform Russia. Without Ukraine, Russia ceases to be a Eurasian empire.” Z. Brzezinski, The Grand Chessboard: American Primacy and Its Geostrategic Imperatives (Basic Books, 1997), 46. 
19.  On the so-called “Letter of Three Leaders,” see V. Socor, “Ukraine’s Top Three Leaders Request Nato Membership Action Plan,” The Jamestown Foundation. Publication: Eurasia Daily Monitor 5 (18 January 2008); : http://www.jamestown. org/single/?tx_ttnews[tt_news]=33304&no_cache=1#. VLRlaXuKUdU. 
20.  In 2010 Russia and Ukraine signed the so-called Kharkiv agreements that called for a 30 percent discount on gas for Ukraine in return for extending the stationing of the Russian fleet at Sevastopol. However, the political opposition in Ukraine, represented by Yatseniuk, was trying to see these agreements denounced. “Agreement on Black Sea Fleet May Be Denounced, Says Yatseniuk,” Kyiv Post, 27 April 2010; http://www.kyivpost. com/content/ukraine/agreement-on-black-sea-fleet-may-bedenounced-says-65154.html. 
21. U.S. intrusion into the affairs of Afghanistan, Yugoslavia, Iraq, Libya, and Syria, led to similar outcomes. It is hard to deny that U.S. is deliberately and directly influencing the affairs of these countries. See video interview with General Wesley Clark, “We’re Going To Take Out 7 Countries in 5 Years: Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Libya, Somalia, Sudan & Iran,” Global Research Centre on Research on Globalization, 2 March 2007; http://www.globalresearch.ca/we-re-going-to-take-out-7- countries-in-5-years-iraq-syria-lebanon-libya-somalia-sudaniran/5166. 
22. S. Timchenko, “Nyneshnie i veroyatnie posledstviya crizisa v Ukraine dlya ukrainskikh protestantov [The Present and Potential Outcomes of the Ukrainian Crisis for Ukrainian Protestants],” East-West Church and Ministry Report 22 (Summer 2014), 38. See also M. Cherenkov, “Posle Maydana [After Maydan],” Ibid., 41; http://www.eastwestreport.org/pdfs/ R22-3.pdf. 
23.  S. Tigipko, “Promyshlennie predpriyatiya nakhodyatsya v krizise iz-za nekompetentnoy politiki pravitel’stva [Industry Is in Crisis Due to Incompetent Policy of the Government],” Comments.ua, 3 October 2014; http://comments.ua/ politics/490093-sergey-tigipkopromishlennie-predpriyativa. html. 
24.  See “ATO: Sabotazh ili nekompetentnost? [ATO: Sabotage or Incompetence?],” Politica-UA, 30 May 2014; http://politica-ua. com/ato-sabotazh-ili-nekompetentnost/.
25. Budapest Memoranda on Security Assurances, 1994,” The Council on Foreign Relations, 5 December 2014; http://www. cfr.org/nonproliferation-arms-control-disarmament/budapestmemorandums-security-assurances-1994/p32484.
26.  See E. Sergatskova, “General Ruban o boevikah na vostoke Ukrainy: Tam lyudi, s kotorymi my stoyali na Maydane [General Ruban of the Separatists in Eastern Ukraine: There Are People Who Were Standing with Us on Maydan], Ukrains’ka Pravda, 20 August 2014; http://www.pravda.com. ua/rus/articles/2014/08/20/7035274/.
27. See video blog of Ukrainian journalist and media expert Anatoly Shariy: http://sharij.net/category/video; and P. Gorokhov, “Feyk tebe v pomosch: ‘Ridus’ sostavil top feykmeykerov nedeli [Fake Be Your Help: Ridus Drew a List of Top Fake-Makers of the Week],” Ridus, 20 May 2014; http://www. ridus.ru/news/160475; and “Fighting False Information on Ukrainian Events,” Ukrainian website StopFake: www.stopfake. org. 
28. S. Timchenko, “Present and Potential Outcomes,” 39. 
29.  Y. Simonenko, “Otkrytoe pis’mo k bratyam Rossii, uchastvovavshim v poslednem syezde RSEKhB [Open Letter to the Brethren in Russia Who Participated in the Recent Congress of the Russian Union of the Evangelical Christians-Baptists],” RISU Religious Information Service in Ukraine, 4
30. A. Desnitskiy, “Russkiy mir posle Slavyanska [Russian World After Slavyansk],” Rossiya v globalnoy politike, 21 May 2014; http://globalaffairs.ru/ukraine_crysis/Russkii-mirposle-Slavyanska-16652; and “Rezolyutsiya XXXIV Syezda RS EKhB po situatsii v bratskoy Ukraine [Resolution of the 34th Congress of the Russian Union of Evangelical ChristiansBaptists on the Situation in Brotherly Ukraine],” 15 January 2015; http://baptist.org.ru/news/main/view/rezolutsiva34-sezda=po=ukriane. See also Sergey Ryakhovsky on the situation in Ukraine in Protestant.ru, 7 March 2014; http:// www.protestant.ru/news/politics/inrussia/article/429721. 
31. A. Shariy, “Interview with Vladimir Ruban,” Part 1 (17:00 forward), 29 December 2014; http://sharij.net/9198.
32.  E. Mazur, “Svyaschennik-volonter: Yesli my khotim sokhranit’ Donbass, nuzhno polyubit’ ego zhiteley [Volunteer Priest: If We Want to Keep Donbass, We Should Love Its People],” Glavkom, 30 August 2014; http://glavcom.ua/articles/22012.html. 
33. “Doctor Lisa: Ochen’ mnogikh na Ukraine voyna izmenila [Doctor Liza: The War in Ukraine Has Changed Many People],” RIA, 9 October 2014; http://ria.ru/ religion/20141009/1027612045.html. See also “Doctor Lisa vyvezla iz Donetska esche devyat’ tyazhelobol’nykh detey [Doctor Liza Has Brought Nine More Children in Grave Condition out of Donetsk],” Vesti, 30 October 2014; http://www. vesti.ru/doc.html?id=2085794. For information on Doctor Liza’s foundation, Spravedlivaya Pomosch’ [Fair Help], see her official website: http://doctorliza.ru.