An Orthodox Easter truce agreed by Russia and Ukraine came into force on Saturday afternoon but 38 minutes later we heard air raid sirens in the Kharkiv region in north-eastern Ukraine. Since then, officials and military have recorded multiple ceasefire violations along the frontline, although no long-range missile or drone strikes. The pause in fighting is supposed to last until Easter Monday to give people a much-needed rest, more than four years after Russia launched its full-scale invasion.
Easter should be a time of safety, a time of peace, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on X, warning that Ukrainian forces would respond strictly in kind to any actions by Moscow. Expectations and trust are very low here.As families gathered with baskets full of festive goodies for church blessings, the tension is palpable, and skepticism reigns regarding the truce's durability.
In a military training ground, drone units prepared for potential escalations, expressing doubt regarding Russia's commitment to the ceasefire. With a backdrop of destruction, residents, like Olha, share their fear and despair over the continued threat of missiles while yearning for real peace that transcends mere temporary measures.
Despite Zelensky's offer for a lasting ceasefire, the Kremlin has rejected the plea, indicating a return to hostilities is imminent. The ongoing cycle of destruction and loss weighs heavily on the people of Ukraine, who can only hope that there will someday be a true resolution to this prolonged conflict.
Easter should be a time of safety, a time of peace, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on X, warning that Ukrainian forces would respond strictly in kind to any actions by Moscow. Expectations and trust are very low here.As families gathered with baskets full of festive goodies for church blessings, the tension is palpable, and skepticism reigns regarding the truce's durability.
In a military training ground, drone units prepared for potential escalations, expressing doubt regarding Russia's commitment to the ceasefire. With a backdrop of destruction, residents, like Olha, share their fear and despair over the continued threat of missiles while yearning for real peace that transcends mere temporary measures.
Despite Zelensky's offer for a lasting ceasefire, the Kremlin has rejected the plea, indicating a return to hostilities is imminent. The ongoing cycle of destruction and loss weighs heavily on the people of Ukraine, who can only hope that there will someday be a true resolution to this prolonged conflict.
