‘We need real peace’: Easter truce fails to lift grim mood in war-torn Ukraine
On Saturday afternoon, a Russian-Ukrainian Easter truce took effect, but within 38 minutes, air raid sirens echoed across the Kharkiv region in northeastern Ukraine. Despite the pause in hostilities, frontline observers reported several ceasefire breaches, though no long-range missile or drone strikes were noted. The truce, spanning 32 hours, aims to offer respite amid a conflict that has endured for over four years since Russia’s full-scale invasion began.
A promise of calm in the face of chaos
President Volodymyr Zelensky tweeted on X, emphasizing that Easter should symbolize safety and peace. However, he cautioned that Ukrainian forces would retaliate proportionally if Moscow violated the agreement. The low trust in the truce was evident as families in Kharkiv prepared for the holiday. They gathered at St John the Theologian Church, carrying Easter treats like iced cakes and sausage for a blessing. The traditional midnight service was moved to mid-afternoon due to ongoing curfews, with parishioners lining up to receive holy water from the priest.
“Do you believe them?” asked Fr Viktor, reflecting on the truce’s significance.
The church itself bore scars from the war’s onset, with one side of its windows still covered in wooden planks. A parishioner, Larisa, noted, “Maybe there will be a pause, but Russia only intensifies attacks afterward. We’ve seen this before.” Meanwhile, at a military training site near the Russian border, members of the Yasni Ochi strike UAV unit tested new equipment. Their commander, Heorhiy, instructed his troops to remain vigilant, anticipating renewed aggression. “Russia says one thing, then does another. You have to be ready,” he said.
Survival amid destruction
Despite the truce, the war’s toll remains visible. In Kharkiv’s suburbs, five-storey apartment buildings lie in ruins, their walls shattered by missile strikes. Others are sealed off with boards, rendering them uninhabitable. Last month, a missile attack killed 11 people, reducing an entire section of a building to ashes. Among the wreckage, a red rug still hangs on a living-room wall, alongside photos of the victims. Olha, a neighbor, recounted sheltering with her elderly mother in a corridor during the blast. She shared a video showing flames engulfing the opposite building and her own flat in pieces.
“This truce is only 1.5 days. But at least we can rest a bit, because here, you expect to die every second,” Olha said.
Heorhiy, whose unit once performed as DJs in Dnipro’s underground music scene, described the war’s relentless pace. “We used to have a good civilian life,” he reflected. “Now we do what we need to do.” The village where his team trains was occupied by Russian forces in 2022 but reclaimed by Ukraine. As the unit prepares for the weekend, they also send Easter cakes and alcohol-free wine to comrades at the front via drones. Yet, the broader goal of reclaiming regions like Donbas feels distant, with many questioning whether the truce will lead to lasting peace.
The fragile hope for diplomacy
Heorhiy expressed optimism about Ukraine’s role in global conflicts, citing increased demand for its drone technology and expertise. However, the US-led peace process has stalled, with Trump’s envoys redirected to mediate Iran’s war. Ukraine continues to seek stronger security assurances from allies, particularly clarity on how the US would respond to a potential renewed invasion. “We need real peace talks,” he insisted, underscoring the urgency of negotiations and the need for sustained support to achieve it.
As the truce unfolds, the contrast between symbolic gestures and the grim reality on the ground remains stark. The war’s proximity means even a brief reprieve is hard-won, with civilians and soldiers alike bracing for the next phase of the conflict.
