‘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

The Easter ceasefire agreement between Russia and Ukraine kicked in on Saturday, but within 38 minutes, air raid alarms echoed across the Kharkiv region in northeastern Ukraine. Despite the truce’s intended 32-hour pause, frontline reports show repeated violations, though no long-range missile or drone strikes have been confirmed. This break in hostilities, set to last until Easter Monday, marks the first respite since Russia’s full-scale invasion began over four years ago.

As the truce took effect, families in Kharkiv gathered at St John the Theologian Church, carrying baskets of iced cakes, painted eggs, and sausage for a blessing. They lined up to receive holy water from the parish priest, a tradition usually held just before midnight. This year, however, the service occurred mid-afternoon due to ongoing curfews. “Do you believe them?” Fr Viktor asked, reflecting on the significance of the ceasefire. His church, damaged early in the war, still bears boarded-up windows from one side.

A parishioner named Larisa voiced skepticism, noting, “Maybe there will be a pause, but then Russia will only launch even more intense attacks. We’ve seen that before.” Meanwhile, at a military training site near the Russian border, members of the Yasni Ochi strike UAV unit, part of the Khartia corps, tested new equipment. They loaded kamikaze drones with explosives and practiced diving maneuvers at targets. Their commander, Heorhiy, ordered troops to remain alert unless under fire, saying, “Russia says one thing, then does the other. So you have to be ready.”

Despite the truce, the war’s impact lingers. In Kharkiv, a ring road now draped in netting aims to trap Russian drones, yet missiles still strike homes with little warning. One suburb saw entire five-storey blocks reduced to rubble last month, killing 11 people. Among the ruins, a red rug remains pinned to a wall, and photos of the deceased lie nearby. Olha, a neighbor, recounted sheltering with her elderly mother 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.”

Heorhiy, whose unit once included DJs from Dnipro’s underground music scene, emphasized Ukraine’s determination. “We need real peace talks,” he stated. “We can’t stop fighting until we get better guarantees from our allies.” The commander cited the Middle East conflict as a sign of Ukraine’s growing influence, offering drone technology and expertise. Yet, the US-led peace process has stalled, with Trump’s envoys focused on Iran. Ukraine continues to push for strong security assurances, particularly from the US, in case of renewed attacks.

“Easter should be a time of safety, a time of peace,” Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on X, warning that Ukrainian forces would retaliate “strictly in kind” to any Russian actions.