The headlines in my news feed are once again predicting a Russian invasion. To name a few...
Timothy Ash: Time to think about worst-case scenarios in Ukraine-Russia crisis
Putin hits tipping point as Ukraine tightens rebel noose
Ukraine Stops Russia's serious provocation
Ukraine says Russia has massed 45,000 troops on the border
But this is nothing new. The same predictions were made back in March, April and May. During those months we had an evacuation box ready to go and our mission agency asked us to be ready to evacuate within two hours if an invasion occurred. Back then there was concern that an overt invasion by Russian forces may target Kyiv as well as the eastern and southern regions of Ukraine.
Today, however, I'm not so worried about our personal safety. Although the setting is ominous for a Russian invasion, most likely under the guise of a "peacekeeping" or "humanitarian" mission, it does not seem likely that Russia will send tanks down Khreschatyk Street or drop bombs on the Ukrainian Parliament. Most likely the conflict will be constrained to the eastern regions where Ukrainian forces are close to retaking the militant-controlled cities of Donetsk and Luhansk. We don't have an evacuation box packed [yet] and I'm still hopeful we will get through this school year without having to shut down.
All along I've wondered what the end will look like. I'm still wondering and, meanwhile, praying for peace.
