More than two billion Christians in the world observed Easter on Sunday to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ after his crucifixion. The holiday is considered to be the most important in the liturgical Christian calendar, constituting a central principle of faith.
But observing the religious opportunity in a peaceful and safe setting is not possible for soldiers on the front line of the war in Ukraine.
A temporary ceasefire was announced on Saturday by Russian president Vladimir Putin to allow a moment of respite and allow people to celebrate the party, which falls the same day for Orthodox and Catholic Christians this year, for the first time since 2017.
Peace was short -lived after the war teams accused of breaking the truce and continuing to launch attacks.
The president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, accused Russia of having targeted Ukrainian cities with drones and missiles in an X position, while accusing the Kremlin of having tried to sell the idea of honoring his temporary truce in the world.
“From Easter morning, we can say that the Russian army is trying to create a general impression of a ceasefire, but in certain places, it does not give up individual attempts to advance and inflict losses on Ukraine.”
Despite Putin's statement of a Easter ceasefire, Zelenskyy said on Sunday morning that Ukrainian forces had recorded 59 cases of Russian bombing and five assaults by units along the front line, as well as dozens of drone strikes.
The Russian Defense Ministry accused Ukrainian forces of nights in the Donetsk region despite the ceasefire. He said Ukraine had sent 48 drones to Russian territory.
According to the ministry, there was “dead and injured among the civilian population”, without giving details. He said Russian troops had strictly observed the truce.
Russia officials in the partially occupied Ukrainian region of Kherson also said that Ukrainian forces had launched attacks.
But despite the difficulties of the war, several Easter and masses services were organized in several Ukrainian cities. The capital, Kyiv, celebrated its fourth Easter holidays in martial law conditions.
Hundreds attended the services in person of the Orthodox Church in Ukraine and the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. The masses have also been broadcast online for those who cannot attend.
Hundreds of faithful gathered on Sunday for the Easter services in the church of Saint-Jean-Théologien, a longtime spiritual and community center of Kharkiv.
The Church served as a source of force throughout the independence of Ukraine and has taken a new meaning during the Russian invasion on a large scale, turning into a humanitarian center.
Father Viktor Marynchak, known since the orange revolution of 2004 as “priest of the Maidans of Kharkiv”, led the Easter liturgy alongside Bishop Mytrofan de Kharkiv.
ADVERTISEMENTThe service has brought together a large Cup of the Ukrainian company, including soldiers, volunteers and longtime parishioners.
Military chaplains were also present to bless traditional Easter bread.
Russian soldiers also celebrated Easter on the front lines. A video published by the Russian Defense Ministry has shown that Orthodox soldiers participating in traditional Easter practices, such as egg coloring.
The soldiers were treated to hot meals and received a cake, as well as their own Easter service in one of the churches in the special military operation area.
ADVERTISEMENTMany hope that it will be the last major celebration celebrated in war conditions, while efforts to end the war, defended by US President Donald Trump.
Trump, in an article on his own social media platform – Truth Social, shared on Sunday that he hopes that an agreement to put an end to the fighting could be reached between kyiv and Moscow this week.
