Putin Announces ‘Special Military Operation for De-Militarization and De-Nazification of Ukraine’

February 24, 2022 — Breitbart.com reports: “Russian President Vladimir Putin declared war on Ukraine in a surprise television announcement at roughly 6:00 a.m. Moscow time, 10:00 p.m. Eastern. The Russian dictator described the unprovoked attack as a ‘special military operation for the de-Militarization and de-Nazification of Ukraine.’

‘I’ve made the decision to conduct a special military operation,’ Putin said. ‘Our analysis has concluded that our confrontation with these forces [in Ukraine] was inevitable.’

‘This is the red line that I have spoken of many times. They have crossed it,’ he said, accusing the Ukrainians of ‘genocide’ for attacking the two new ‘independent republics’ he unilaterally conjured into existence on Monday…

‘A couple of words for those who would be tempted to intervene. Russia will respond immediately and you will have consequences that you never have had before in your history,’ he warned.

‘As for the military sphere, modern Russia, even after the collapse of the USSR and the loss of a significant part of its nuclear potential, is today one of the most powerful nuclear powers. And moreover, it has certain advantages in a number of the latest types of weapons. In this regard, no one should have any doubt that a direct attack on Russia will lead to defeat and dire consequences for a potential aggressor,’ he said, making it clear that he was threatening nuclear retaliation against the U.S. and NATO if they interfere with his attack on Ukraine…”  (Ezekiel 38:5 predicts that Russia, the Orient, and Persia [which changed its name to Iran in 1932] will see millions destroyed through atomic warfare in the Latter Years and Latter Days – Ezekiel 38:8, 16. Prepare to meet thy God Israel – Amos 4:12. This battle is described in Revelation 9:14 – 18: Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates. And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men. And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them. And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone. By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths.)

Biden Warns American Citizens To Leave Ukraine

February 11, 2022 — Voice of America News reports: “U.S. President Joe Biden cautioned American citizens about staying in Ukraine on Thursday, urging them to leave the country immediately and warning of a potential major conflict with Russia should a clash erupts between U.S. and Russian troops.

Speaking in a televised interview on the U.S.-based television network NBC News, Biden said ‘American citizens should leave, should leave now.’

‘We’re dealing with one of the largest armies in the world. This is a very different situation, and things could go crazy quickly,’ Biden said.

The U.S. president said he would not send troops to Ukraine, even to rescue Americans in case of a Russian invasion.

‘That’s a world war. When Americans and Russians start shooting one another, we’re in a very different world,’ he said…”  (In 2014, during the Obama – Biden administration, Russia invaded and then annexed the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine.  Now in 2022, during the Biden – Harris administration, Putin is again making his move. 

Russia in Bible prophecy is the main instigator of death and suffering during Armageddon – Revelation 16:16.  Ezekiel chapters 38 & 39, which Dr. Van Impe has proclaimed for sixty years, aided by Oriental and Islamic nations, bring total chaos and atomic devastation upon the world.  Worse yes, it’s just ahead of us.  Every nation he included in World War III is forming exactly as taught this global blood bath six decades ago.  The only good news is that the Rapture precedes Armageddon – “Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth” – Revelation 3:10.  Then our deliverance as believers – Revelation 4:1 and our joy because of missing Armageddon.  See the next report.)

EU countries urge nationals out of Ukraine

February 14, 2022  — euobserver.com reports: “Citing a growing risk of a Russian attack, several EU countries and Britain have followed the US in urging their nationals to leave Ukraine.

Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Latvia, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Sweden, as well as the UK, joined a growing list of countries over the weekend calling on expats to fly out on commercial services.

‘If you are currently in Ukraine, make sure that your presence is absolutely necessary. If it is not, leave the country shortly,’ the German foreign ministry advised.

Irish citizens were urged to leave ‘immediately.’

The UK and the US have also flown back home military trainers who had been embedding with the Ukrainian army…”

NATO says Russia’s military build-up continuing around Ukraine

February 17, 2022 — SpaceWar.com reports: “NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg on Wednesday said Russia’s military build-up seemed to be continuing around Ukraine despite Moscow announcing the pullback of more forces.

‘We have heard the signs from Moscow about readiness to continue diplomatic efforts, but so far, we have not seen any de-escalation on the ground,’ Stoltenberg said ahead of a meeting of NATO defence ministers.

‘On the contrary, it appears that Russia continues their military build-up,’ he said.

Stoltenberg said ‘it remains to be seen whether there is a Russian withdrawal…”  (Vladimir Putin has been in power as either the Prime Minister or President of Russia since 1999.  On August 16, 1999, in front of Duma, or parliament, he declared: ‘Russia has been a great power for centuries, and remains so.’  ‘It has always had and still has legitimate zones of interest abroad in both the former Soviet lands and elsewhere.’  In 2019, Asia Times Online reported of the lavish welcome Putin received in Serbia.  They stated: “Serbia – despite its new pro-Western leadership and EU ambitions – has deep historical ties with the Slavic ‘big brother’ that has supported Belgrade over the centuries, most recently during the 1999 NATO bombing campaign.  It is the only European nation that is truly close to Russia, with common Orthodox and Slavic roots, a daily Moscow-Belgrade train and a bilateral visa-free entry agreement. Putin pledged to invest US$1.4 billion in gas pipeline infrastructure for Serbia, which already buys all its natural gas from Russia.  But ties extend far beyond cultural and ethnic similarities, to Moscow’s wider geopolitical strategies.  The Belgrade love fest is just another brick in the giant international structure Russian officials label Russkiy Mir, or Russian World.  Moscow media cover ‘Russkiy Mir’ and conferences of ‘Russian compatriots’ on a daily basis. Though the USSR has dissolved, step by step, Putin’s Kremlin is bringing the vast lands of its former empire back into the fold.”  See the next two reports.)

As world looks to Ukraine, did Russia just take Belarus?

February 3, 2022 — euobserver.com reports: “Russia has de facto ‘occupied’ its neighbour Belarus, MEPs have warned, even as the world’s attention focuses on Ukraine.

‘The recent deployment of Russian troops in Belarus poses a threat to Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and the whole of Europe. It may also be a part of the ultimate plan to subjugate and occupy Belarus,’ the MEPs said in an open letter to the heads of other EU institutions on Tuesday (1 February).

‘The continued presence of Russian military forces at the request of the illegitimate [Belarus president Alexander] Lukashenko regime should be treated as an occupation of Belarus. This must be made absolutely clear during the ongoing US and EU talks with Russia,’ they added.

‘Any diplomatic decision to deter possible Russian aggression against Ukraine must envisage an independent and democratic future for Belarus, not at its expense,’ they said…”

Ukraine Attack Leaves Baltics Wondering: Are We Next?

February 24, 2022 — Voice of America News reports: “Viewed from Paris, London and Washington, the events unfolding in Ukraine may seem like a new Cold War taking shape in Europe.

From the Baltic countries, it looks much worse.

To Estonians, Latvians and Lithuanians — particularly those old enough to have lived under Soviet control — Russia’s belligerence toward Ukraine has some worried that they could be the next target. The tensions have brought back memories of mass deportations and oppression.

‘My grandparents were sent away to Siberia. My father was persecuted by the KGB. Now I live in a free democratic country, but it seems that nothing can be taken for granted,’ said Jaunius Kazlauskas, a 50-year-old teacher in Vilnius, Lithuania’s capital.

Russia’s attack on Ukraine sent shockwaves through the Baltic countries on Thursday. Lithuania’s president declared a state of emergency and Latvia suspended the broadcast licenses of several Russian TV stations accused of spreading disinformation and propaganda.

All three Baltic countries were seized and annexed by Stalin during World War II before gaining independence again with the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991. They joined NATO in 2004, putting themselves under the military protection of the U.S. and its Western allies. Ukraine is not part of NATO…”

Russian forces around Ukraine now ‘north of 100,000’: Pentagon

February 10, 2022 — SpaceWar.com reports: “Russia continues to build up its forces along the border with Ukraine and has now deployed ‘north of 100,000’ troops, the Pentagon said Wednesday.

‘We have continued to see even over the last 24 hours additional capabilities flow from elsewhere in Russia to that border with Ukraine and Belarus,’ Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said.

‘We’re not going to get into providing specific numbers but the numbers continue to grow,’ he said.

Referring to Russian leader Vladimir Putin, Kirby said ‘we maintain that he’s north of 100,000 for sure.’

‘And he continues to add to that capability,’ he said. ‘We also see indications that additional battalion tactical groups are on their way…”  (According to a February 20, 2022 Sky News report, Russia outmatches Ukraine in regular military manpower by almost 5 to 1.  It has 900,000 active military personnel across its forces, compared with Ukraine’s 196,600.  The imbalance is greatest at sea, with Russia having 10 times the number of navy personnel.  The Russian navy operates 74 warships and 51 submarines, compared with Ukraine’s two warships.  They have more than three times the amount of artillery, six times the number of tanks, and almost seven times more armoured vehicles than the Ukrainians.  In the air, it is a similar story: Russia has 10 times the number of attack aircraft and helicopters.  See the next two reports.)

US warns Russian invasion could see Kyiv fall in days, leave 50,000 civilians dead

February 7, 2022 — The Times of Israel reports: “Russia has assembled at least 70 percent of the military firepower it likely intends to have in place by mid-month to give President Vladimir Putin the option of launching a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, US officials say.

The officials, who discussed internal assessments of the Russian buildup on condition they not be identified, sketched out a series of indicators suggesting Putin intends an invasion in coming weeks, although the size and scale are unclear. They stressed that a diplomatic solution appears to remain possible…

US officials have said in recent weeks that a Russian invasion could overwhelm Ukraine’s military relatively quickly, although Moscow might find it difficult to sustain an occupation and cope with a potential insurgency…

If Russia does opt for a full-scale attack, the invading force could take the capital Kyiv and topple President Volodymyr Zelensky in a matter of 48 hours, US officials said.

Such an attack would leave 25,000 to 50,000 civilians dead, along with 5,000 to 25,000 Ukrainian soldiers and 3,000 to 10,000 Russian ones. It could also trigger a refugee flood of one to five million people, mainly into Poland, the officials said

Its navy lost, Ukraine girds for Russian warship drills

February 14, 2022 — SpaceWar.com reports: “Ukrainian captain Oleksandr Surkov looks askance at his patrol boat’s machine guns and laments how futile they would be fending off an attack from Russian warships now steaming across the Black Sea.

‘Our weapons are mostly designed to protect our state borders, not to wage war,’ the 32-year-old says as his boat bobs through grey mist enveloping the coast of Ukraine’s industrial port of Mariupol.

‘But if they attack, we will defend ourselves with every weapon we have.’

Surkov’s worries reflect that of Ukraine as a whole as it girds for a feared invasion from more than 100,000 Russian troops who have encircled the ex-Soviet state from nearly every side…”