Ukraine interim President described as ‘born again’ Christian, won’t intervene in Crimea
Ukraine will not intervene militarily in the separatist peninsula of Crimea, in order to avoid exposing its eastern border, Ukraine’s acting president told AFP Tuesday as Pastor Wolodymyr Kunets describes the leader as a devout Christian man.
Oleksandr Turchynov photo U.S. Department of State
Oleksandr Turchynov, who came to power last month after violent protests brought down the previous pro-Moscow government, addressed the desire to counter Russia with military force.
“We cannot launch a military operation in Crimea, as we would expose the eastern border (close to Russia) and Ukraine would not be protected,” Turchynov said as Crimea — a southeastern peninsula that has come under the de facto control of Russian forces — prepares to vote in a referendum Sunday on joining Russia.
“What they call the referendum will not happen in Crimea but in the offices of the Kremlin,” the president said, hours after the pro-Russian authorities in the Black Sea peninsula voted for full independence from Ukraine, further escalating what has already turned into the worst East-West crisis since the Cold War.
“It’s a sham, most of the people of Crimea will boycott this provocation,” he added.
“He is a born again Christian and loves God!” Pastor Wolodymyr Kunets, with Word of Life, told CBN News.
Pastor Kunets spoke highly of the new leader, calling on Christians to continue praying for the region.
“It is very rare, not just for Ukraine, but the entire region, for a Baptist Christian to run the country,” Kunets said.
Turchynov recently told a Christian magazine that God is working in his country despite the political chaos. He’s asking believers worldwide to pray.
“I’m so glad he’s been given such a position, but from another perspective it is very scary because we are experiencing very difficult times,” Kunets said. “We are bankrupt as a nation and there are many enemies who don’t want to see Ukraine do well.”
Christians have found themselves playing the role of peacemaker, as described by Ostap Kryvdyk, leader of the anti-government demonstrators.
“During the gun fights there was a priest who was standing there and who gave his last words and last service to dying people,” Kryvdyk, with Maidan Self Defense unit, said. “And he personally told me that 20 people died in his arms.”
