Ukraine conflict hits home for some in Bethany College community

By Anne Hassler Heidel

LINDSBORG—Dozens of community members, students, faculty, and staff gathered in Pearson Chapel on the Bethany College campus Monday night to discuss the current situation in Ukraine and pray for a peaceful resolution.

Assistant Professor of political science Rachel Finnell, who specializes in studying dictators and authoritarian regimes, gave a brief history of Ukrainian-Russian relations and her prognosis for how the current situation could proceed. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed concern for NATO military alliance expansion and pushed back on the possibility of Ukraine and other Eastern Europe countries joining. Russia was part of the Partnership for Peace program, a cooperative effort with NATO begun in 1997. That cooperation was suspended in 2014 when Russian forces took control of the Crimea region of Ukraine. President Putin’s decision to invade Ukraine in 2022 has put the prospect of European peace in question for the foreseeable future, according to Finnell.

Some of the global repercussions of the invasion could include higher prices for wheat, sanctions forbidding commerce with Russian companies and banks and an opportunity for China to rise in power should Russia’s military campaign fail or its economy collapse.

Finnell described the major sanctions being enforced on Russia by the United States and its allies as extremely effective. The value of the Russian ruble has dropped to less than $.01 (down from a normal range of 75 rubles per $1 US to 105 rubles per $1 US). This has triggered a drop in wealth for Russian oligarchs who could put real pressure on Putin to change course. Finnell said if Putin were to lose power in Russia, it could create a power vacuum as no clear replacement is known. 

Bethany College student Galina Brauer shared her insight on Russia-Ukraine relations based on her first-hand experience growing up in Moscow. Brauer, who is a Russian citizen, said she identifies ethnically as Ukrainian where her grandparents came from and currently live. Recent developments have pushed up Brauer’s decision to apply for Ukrainian citizenship as she fears she will lose her student visa. She taped an interview with her thoughts on the situation before leaving for the Ukrainian consulate office in Chicago this week.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine brought surprise and shock to Brauer as she felt adamantly that Putin would never actually invade Ukraine given the close relationship of the people of the two nations. 

“We are the two closest nations to each other with a long history,” Brauer said.

Putin’s actions have caused destabilization and fear in the region, according to Brauer who has been in contact with friends in both countries. 

“This is not something the people of Russia want. It gets very personal,” Brauer said.

Putin’s justification for invading the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine citing genocide of Russian-speaking citizens is not something Brauer had ever heard of before and believes it’s propaganda being put out by the government.

Living in the United States affords Brauer a luxury many in her homeland do not have to speak out against the government and political leaders.

Bethany College Campus Pastor Amy Truhe, lead the crowd in prayer and gave examples of how U.S. citizens can help the Ukrainian people by supporting organizations like UNICEF, Amnesty International, and Save the Children.

Finnell also encouraged those present to support a free and independent press singling out the Kyiv Independent for its coverage of the invasion.