Russias economic prosperity over the last three decades has been a smokescreen for moral bankruptcy and global incompetence. Sen. John McCain recognized this truth back in 2014 when he declared that Russia is “a gas station masquerading as a country.” That insight rings even truer today.
We saw another glimpse of Russias hollow performance recently when it unveiled an AI-powered humanoid robot meant to showcase technological advancement. Moments after the grand reveal, the robot tripped and fell face-first. In a scene that perfectly captures the Russian system, someone rushed to cover the failure with a black curtain – as if embarrassment could somehow be erased by denial. This is quintessential Russia: a glossy shell built on corruption, propaganda, and fear.
For years, Moscow has portrayed itself as a global superpower. Yet the invasion of Ukraine in 2022 has totally exposed the farce. The “second greatest army in the world” was supposed to conquer Kyiv in three days. Instead, its full-scale fantasy has become a four-year quagmire. What was meant to be a show of dominance turned into a slow-motion collapse.
Steven Moore, a U.S. political operative turned humanitarian who currently lives in Ukraine, believes that Ukraine is not merely holding its ground – it is winning. The evidence is everywhere: Russian military morale is depleted, logistics are in chaos, and its “special operation” has devoured more than a million soldiers. Russia knows it cannot win. Yet instead of retreating, Russia is lashing out, targeting civilians, hospitals, and power plants.
This isnt a Hollywood movie or a distant geopolitical chess match. Its the systematic murder of sovereign Ukrainians in real time. We are watching cities being bombed and Ukrainian children being abducted. The question we must face is hauntingly simple: What will it take for the civilized world to stop casually observing evil?
Russias system thrives on illusion and manipulation of perception. They love military parades and propaganda victories, masking decay beneath the surface. But behind every Russian missile strike is a crumbling economy, a hollowed-out population, and a government terrified of its own people. No amount of censorship or curtain-pulling can hide the truth forever.
Ive been to Ukraine nearly a dozen times since the full-scale invasion began. Every visit reminds me that the heart of this war is not about territory or politics; its about truth versus lies, dignity versus domination, and freedom versus fear.
In August, I met pastors providing emotional and spiritual support while living with the uncertainty of whether they would live to see the next day. I met doctors who continue to show up to work, after surviving a Shahed drone attack that killed fellow colleagues. I spent time with volunteers driving unarmored vans into war zones to deliver aid. These are ordinary people doing extraordinary things. They dont have the luxury of complaining about the price of eggs and gas. They fight because they are being attacked – they are defending their children, their faith, and their future.
Their courage exposes Russias deception. Ukraines endurance has stripped away the myth of Russian might. The hollow Russian Empire cannot conquer what Ukraine has in abundance – moral clarity and unity of purpose.
This war is revealing more than Russias weakness; in some ways, its exposing the Wests. Despite being some of the wealthiest and most powerful nations in human history, the West is often paralyzed by comfort and convenience. Our moral hesitation to stop Russian aggression is contrasted sharply by Ukraines resolve.
Supporting Ukraine is not just about sending weapons or writing checks. Its about taking a decisive stand for human liberty itself. Standing with Ukraine is a declaration that truth still matters and that freedom is worth sacrifice. History will not remember our hashtags or our pithy headlines. Our children and grandchildren will remember whether we acted. The generations to come will remember whether we used our influence to comfort the oppressed or to protect our comfort.
As a follower of Jesus, I deeply believe freedom is sacred because every person bears the image of God. That belief is not confined to faith; it is the foundation of human rights, democracy, and dignity. Whether you call it conscience, faith, or simply humanity, the moral law written on our hearts demands that we respond to the pain of others.
The people of Ukraine have shown the world what courage looks like. Now its our turn to show solidarity. Speak. Give. Pray. Advocate. Justice and liberty are worth defending, and we know that appeasement never stops aggression.
The curtain has already been pulled back. We have seen Russia for what it is – a wobbly attempt to appear cutting edge, powerful, and capable. Ultimately, because power built on lies collapses, it will fall flat on its face.
Andrew Moroz, Ph.D., is a Ukrainian-American pastor and the founder of The Renewal Initiative.