‘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 War-Torn Reality
As the Orthodox Easter ceasefire agreement between Russia and Ukraine took effect on Saturday, Kharkiv in northeastern Ukraine was soon rocked by air raid sirens just 38 minutes later. Despite the truce’s intended 32-hour pause, which was meant to last until Easter Monday, officials and military personnel have noted several ceasefire breaches along the front lines, though no long-range missiles or drone attacks have been reported so far.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed hope that Easter would symbolize safety and peace, vowing that Ukrainian forces would retaliate “strictly in kind” if Moscow violated the agreement. Yet, the somber atmosphere in the war-torn country remains unshaken, with low expectations and distrust of the fragile truce.
Hope and Skepticism at the Church
Just before the 16:00 (14:00 BST) start time for the truce, families gathered at St John the Theologian Church, carrying baskets of iced Easter cakes, painted eggs, and sausage for a blessing. They formed a line around the building to receive holy water from the parish priest, a tradition usually held just before midnight. This year, however, the service took place mid-afternoon due to curfew restrictions.
“Do you believe them?” Fr Viktor asked, reflecting on the significance of Russia’s ceasefire. The church itself had been damaged at the start of the full-scale war, with one side still boarded up. “Maybe there will be a pause,” suggested parishioner Larisa. “But then Russia will only launch even more intense attacks. We’ve seen that before.”
Frontline Preparations and Strategic Outlook
At a military training site just 12 miles from the Russian border, members of the Yasni Ochi UAV strike unit, part of the Khartia Corps, are testing new equipment this weekend. The unit loads kamikaze drones with explosives and practices diving maneuvers on targets. Their commander, Heorhiy, has ordered troops to remain alert unless under attack, anticipating that Russia will resume its assaults.
Meanwhile, soldiers on rotation have been using drones to deliver Easter cakes and non-alcoholic wine to comrades at the front. The village where the unit trains was seized by Russian forces in 2022 but recaptured by Ukraine. Now, the area is a wasteland of rubble, and discussions about reclaiming regions like Donbas feel distant.
Heorhiy emphasizes that Ukraine cannot afford to stop fighting until it secures more favorable terms from its allies in peace talks with Russia. “We need genuine peace talks,” he insists. He is inspired by the Middle East conflict, where nations have turned to Ukraine for drone technology and expertise. However, the US-led peace initiative has stalled, with Trump’s envoys now focused on Iran.
Ukraine continues to demand robust security assurances from its allies, particularly concerning the US’s response in the event of a renewed Russian invasion. “It’s not our choice,” Heorhiy says, recalling that several of his unit were DJs before the war, part of an underground electronic music scene in Dnipro. “We used to have a good civilian life. Now we do what we need to do.”
Destruction and Desperation in Kharkiv
Returning to Kharkiv, the ring road is now lined with netting to ensnare Russian drones and protect vehicles. Yet, this measure offers little defense against missiles striking nearby homes. In one suburb, several five-story apartment buildings have been reduced to rubble, while others are boarded up and abandoned. Last month, 11 lives were lost when a missile struck at dawn, demolishing an entire section of a building.
Among the ruins, a red rug still hangs on a living-room wall, and photographs of two victims lie nearby. Olha, a neighbor, described how she sheltered with her elderly mother in