‘We need real peace’: Easter truce fails to lift grim mood in war-torn Ukraine
We Need Real Peace: Easter Truce Fails to Ease Ukraine’s Strain
The Orthodox Easter ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine began on Saturday afternoon, but just 38 minutes later, air raid alarms blared across the Kharkiv region in northeastern Ukraine. Despite the agreement, the peace was fleeting, with reports of multiple ceasefire breaches along the frontlines, though no long-range missiles or drones were launched. The pause, set to last until Easter Monday, aims to provide respite after four years of full-scale invasion. However, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed skepticism, tweeting that Easter should symbolize safety, not another round of conflict. He warned that Ukrainian forces would retaliate “strictly in kind” if Moscow broke the truce.
A Church Service Amid Uncertainty
In Kharkiv, families arrived at St John the Theologian Church carrying baskets of iced Easter cakes, painted eggs, and sausage for blessings. They queued around the building to be sprinkled with holy water by the parish priest, who typically conducts the event at midnight. This year, the service was held mid-afternoon due to curfew restrictions. When asked about the significance of the truce, Fr Viktor questioned whether anyone truly believed in Russia’s commitment. The church, damaged at the war’s start, still has boarded-up windows on one side, a reminder of the ongoing conflict.
“Do you believe them?” Fr Viktor asked, reflecting the doubts shared by many.
A parishioner named Larisa suggested the truce might offer a brief pause. “But then Russia will only escalate,” she said, citing past patterns. Her words underscore the fragile optimism in the region.
Frontline Readiness and Symbolic Gestures
At a military training site 12 miles from the Russian border, the Yasni Ochi strike UAV unit of the Khartia corps tested new equipment. Troops loaded kamikaze drones with explosives and rehearsed diving tactics. Their commander, Heorhiy, ordered his team to stay alert during the 32-hour ceasefire, ready to respond if attacked. “Russia says one thing, does another,” he said, emphasizing the need for vigilance. Meanwhile, soldiers on rotation used drones to deliver Easter treats to comrades at the front, a gesture of solidarity amid relentless conflict.
The unit’s training village was captured by Russian forces in 2022 but reclaimed by Ukraine. Now, the area lies in ruins, with few discussing territorial gains like the Donbas region. Heorhiy believes Ukraine cannot pause until it secures better terms from its allies. “We need real peace talks,” he said, noting that the Middle East conflict has drawn global attention to Ukraine’s drone technology and expertise. Yet, the U.S.-led peace process has stalled, with Trump’s envoys focused on their own dispute with Iran.
Missiles and the Search for Respite
As the ceasefire took effect, Kharkiv’s ring road was draped in netting to trap Russian drones. However, this measure offers little protection against missiles striking residential areas. In a nearby suburb, several five-storey flats were reduced to rubble, while others are boarded up and uninhabitable. Last month, a missile attack killed 11 people in the early hours, destroying an entire section of a building. Among the wreckage, a red rug remains pinned to a wall, and photographs of two victims lie nearby.
“This truce is only 1.5 days. But at least we can rest a bit,” said Olha, a resident who sheltered with her elderly mother during the attack. She shared a video of the building opposite engulfed in flames, her own home in ruins. “You expect to die every second here,” she added.
Olha’s account highlights the desperation for calm. While the truce offers a temporary reprieve, the threat of renewed violence looms large. For those like Heorhiy, whose unit members were once DJs in Dnipro’s underground music scene, the war has transformed lives. “It’s not our choice,” he said. “We used to have a good civilian life. Now we do what we need to do.”
