Early last Thursday, the people of Ukraine awoke to explosions. Russia was attacking their country.

 Russian soldiers started surrounding Ukraine last November. Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin, promised not to invade. Now he has broken that promise.

Ukraine is a country about the size of Texas. It sits on the border of Russia. The nation’s rich soil and wheat fields have given it the nickname “the breadbasket of Europe.” It lies between Russia and the rest of the continent.

In the past, both countries belonged to the Soviet Union. Led by Russia, the Soviet Union had much power. It used its power for evil. Its people were oppressed.

But in 1991, the Soviet Union fell apart. Ukraine became an independent country. Its people finally had freedom from Russian rule.

Now President Putin wants Ukraine back. He’s told many stories about why he chose to invade Ukraine. He says Russia needed to protect Ukraine’s people. He says Ukraine isn’t a real nation. He says Ukraine’s land belongs to Russia.

But Ukraine’s people know these are lies. So does most of the rest of the world.

The United States and other nations have announced sanctions against Russia. Sanctions are penalties. These rules limit trade with Russian banks and businesses. The United States and its allies hope this will stop President Putin without hurting the Russian people.

Many of Russia’s people do not want to fight with Ukraine. Thousands of Russians protested the invasion. But the authorities stopped these protests. They arrested some of the people who spoke out.

The Bible has strong words for greedy leaders who hurt their neighbors. But even when nations do evil, God remains in control.

Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! — Isaiah 5:20