A temporary Orthodox Easter ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine collapsed within minutes of its implementation, leaving residents in war-torn regions with little hope for lasting peace. The 32-hour truce, intended to provide respite during the holiday, was violated just 38 minutes after it began, with air raid sirens sounding in Kharkiv and multiple ceasefire breaches reported along the frontline.
"Easter should be a time of safety, a time of peace," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on social media, warning that Ukrainian forces would respond "strictly in kind" to any Russian actions.
In Kharkiv, families gathered at St. John the Theologian Church for Easter blessings, carrying baskets of traditional foods. The church, still bearing damage from earlier attacks, served as a somber backdrop to celebrations tempered by skepticism.
"Maybe there will be a pause," parishioner Larisa suggested, "but then Russia will only launch even more intense attacks. We've seen that before."
At a military training ground near the Russian border, members of the Yasni Ochi drone unit tested new equipment while maintaining readiness. Commander Heorhiy ordered his troops to observe the ceasefire unless attacked but expressed little faith in Russian compliance.
"Russia says one thing, then does the other," he noted. "So you have to be ready."
Despite the grim reality, some soldiers managed to deliver Easter treats to frontline positions using drones, a small gesture of normalcy amid the destruction. The surrounding villages, reduced to rubble during earlier fighting, stood as stark reminders of the conflict's toll.
Heorhiy emphasized that Ukraine cannot afford to stop fighting until it can negotiate from a position of strength, adding, "We need real peace talks."
Back in Kharkiv, defensive measures like netting over ring roads aim to intercept drones, but residents remain vulnerable to missile attacks with little warning time. In one suburb, entire apartment blocks lay in ruins, including a building where 11 people were killed in a recent strike.
Neighbor Olha, who survived the attack by sheltering in a corridor with her elderly mother, expressed desperation for more than temporary relief.
"This truce is only 1.5 days," she said through tears. "But at least we can rest a bit, because here, you expect to die every second. We really want peace. Not for 1.5 days. For good."
President Zelensky has proposed transforming the flawed temporary ceasefire into a lasting arrangement, but Moscow has already rejected the offer, indicating attacks will resume in full force after the holiday period ends.