‘We need real peace’: Easter truce fails to lift grim mood in war-torn Ukraine
We need real peace’: Easter truce fails to lift grim mood in war-torn Ukraine
As the Orthodox Easter truce between Russia and Ukraine took effect on Saturday, the sounds of battle quickly disrupted the fragile calm. Just 38 minutes after the agreement was signed, air raid alarms echoed through Kharkiv region, northeast Ukraine. Despite the pause, frontline reports indicate several violations, though no major missile or drone attacks have been recorded so far. This truce, set to last until Easter Monday, marks four years since Russia’s full-scale invasion began.
President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed hope that the holiday would bring respite, writing on X: “Easter should be a time of safety, a time of peace.” Yet he cautioned that Ukrainian forces would retaliate “strictly in kind” if Moscow breached the ceasefire. Trust in the agreement is thin, as the war’s relentless pace has left many skeptical of its true purpose.
A church service amid the chaos
In the shadow of conflict, families gathered at St John the Theologian Church to celebrate the Easter season. They carried baskets filled with iced cakes, painted eggs, and sausage, seeking blessings for the occasion. The service, usually held at midnight, was moved to mid-afternoon due to curfew restrictions. Parishioners formed a line around the building, receiving holy water from the priest.
“Do you believe them?” Fr Viktor asked, reflecting on the significance of the truce. The church itself had been damaged in the war’s early days, with one side still boarded up.
Among the attendees, Larisa voiced cautious optimism. “Maybe there will be a pause,” she said, “but Russia will just launch even more intense attacks. We’ve seen that before.” The fleeting nature of the ceasefire underscores the deep-seated anxiety gripping the region.
Preparing for the frontlines
At a military training site just 12 miles from the Russian border, members of the Yasni Ochi strike UAV unit are fine-tuning their equipment. They practice launching kamikaze drones at targets, ensuring readiness for the upcoming days. Their commander, Heorhiy, ordered his troops to remain alert during the 32-hour pause, warning that Moscow might break the agreement.
Despite the truce, the unit has already begun delivering Easter cakes and alcohol-free wine to soldiers at the front via drone. The training area, once occupied by Russian forces in 2022, is now under Ukrainian control. The surrounding rubble serves as a stark reminder of the war’s toll, with many areas left uninhabitable.
Heorhiy emphasized that Ukraine cannot afford to halt its efforts. “We need real peace talks,” he said, “not just temporary pauses.” He cited the Middle East conflict as a reason for hope, noting that countries have sought Ukraine’s drone expertise. However, the US-led peace process has stalled, with Trump’s envoys redirected to Iran.
Civilians in the crosshairs
Returning to Kharkiv, the city’s ring road is now draped in netting to catch Russian drones. Yet this measure offers little protection against missiles hitting residential areas. In one suburb, five-storey buildings have been reduced to rubble, with others left boarded up and abandoned.
Last month, a missile strike killed 11 people in a single night, demolishing an entire section of a building. Amid the wreckage, a red rug remains pinned to a wall, alongside photographs of the deceased. Olha, a neighbor, recounted how she and her elderly mother took shelter in a corridor during the attack. “This truce is only 1.5 days,” she said, “but at least we can rest a bit. Here, you expect to die every second.”
For Olha, the desire for peace is palpable. “We really want peace,” she added, “but it feels like a distant dream.” The war has transformed her life, as it has for many others, leaving behind a landscape of destruction and uncertainty.