The conflict in Ukraine pits two Vladimirs against each other; Volodymyr Oleksandrovych Zelenskyy, the president of Ukraine, versus Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, the President of Russia. 

This confrontation pits two men destined for greatness against each other as the name ‘Vladimir’ in Slavic means ‘great ruler.’ Ironically,  the folk etymological interpretation of the name is “world owner” or “peace owner.” The first Grand Prince of Kyiv was named Vladimir the Great, and three of his successors bore his name. 

The name ‘Vladimir.’

The name is also prominent among modern Russian leaders, most notably the infamous Vladimir Lenin, the first and founding head of government of Soviet Russia. Ironically, Putin, with aspirations to resurrect the Soviet Union, credited Lenine with founding Ukraine, a historical fact that Putin invented to justify his invasion. 

Despite sharing a name, the two leaders are firmly at odds. The Ukrainian president has personally led his people in armed resistance against the vastly superior Russian army, putting the lie to Putin’s claim that Ukraine is part of Russia. 

The Hebrew-language geula (redemption) website Sod1820 noted similarities between Putin and Julius Caesar. In Hebrew, the name ‘Vladimir” is the same letter as Vlad Romi (born of Rome). It is well known that Julius Caesar, born in Rome, was the first recorded birth by surgery, known as Caesarian Section. Ceasar, like Putin, reversed the anti-Israel/anti-Jewish mandates of his predecessors.

Messianic implications

This connection between Putin and the Roman ruler has messianic implications. “The Messiah at the Gates of Rome” is a parable from the Talmud ( Sanhedrin 98a). The story tells of Rabbi Joshua ben Levi (who lived in the first half of the third century) visited by the Prophet Elijah. “When will the Messiah come?” asked Joshua. “Ask the messiah,” replied Elijah. “He is at the gates of Rome, sitting among the poor.” The rabbi went to Rome, where he indeed found the messiah and posed his question, to which the Messiah replied, “Today.” Elijah explained that the Messiah’s arrival was conditional as described in Psalms:

O, if you would but heed His charge this day: Psalms 95:7

It is also interesting to note that Julius Caesar ruled over Syria. Putin also established a robust military presence in Syria which in Hebrew is composed of the same letters as ‘Russia’ (סוריה-רוסיה). This military presence has worked for the benefit of Israel as the Russian military allows the IDF to wage airstrikes against Iranian military targets in Syria.  

“The great ruler”

Taking a look at the middle names also bears insights. Putin’s middle name, Vladimirovich, literally means “Vladimir’s son,” or “the great ruler” doubled, emphasizing his destined role in world politics. He is the second-longest current serving European president after Alexander Lukashenko of neighboring Belarus.

Putin’s mother’s maiden name was Maria Ivanovna Shelomova, a  Russianized version of the Jewish last name Shalom (peace) prevalent among Russian Jews, leading to speculation that the president of Russia is Jewish. The name is reminiscent of King Solomon. This claim is unsubstantiated, but if true, the current war in Ukraine pits a Jewish leader against a Jewish leader. 

Rabbi Berger, the rabbi of King David’s Tomb in Jerusalem, noted that God was guiding these two rulers to bring about the final war.

Gog and Magog

“It is clear to everyone that Gog and Magog have already begun. Hashem is setting ruler against the ruler, Vladimir against Vladimir, so that they will destroy each other,” Rabbi Berger said. “Before the Messiah arrives, all of the nations that sinned against the Jews will have to be punished as a Tikkun (fixing). The Ukrainians murdered countless Jews, as did the Russians.”

“From the side of Putin, this war does not make sense. As their common name implies, these two leaders are the archetypal representative of all kings. They will wipe each other out, lead to their downfall, paving the way for all governments to accept the ultimate king from the house of David.”

It is not only the Jews who see the apocalyptic implications of the war in Ukraine and the two main characters.

In an interview with the BBC,  Yevstratiy Zoria, the spokesman for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, ascribed a negative end-of-days role to Putin.

“Putin is really not messiah, but really anti-Christ of our current time,” Zoria said. “He is anti-Christ because everything that he does, everything that he does now, is totally against the gospel, against God’s law.”

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