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 Kharkiv, north-eastern Ukraine. By mid-morning on Easter Sunday, as families across the country attended church, Ukraine's military had recorded more than 2,000 ceasefire violations along the frontline, but no long-range missile or drone strikes. Russia's military gave a similar number.
The pause in fighting was supposed to last until 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 shortly after the truce began, warning that Ukrainian forces would respond "strictly in kind" to any actions by Moscow. But expectations and trust were very low.
Shortly before the 16:00 ( ) start time for the truce, people brought baskets full of iced Easter cakes, painted eggs and sausage to St John the Theologian Church for a blessing. They formed a line around the building to be doused with holy water by the parish priest. The service is traditionally held just before midnight, with a procession around the church, but it was mid-afternoon this year because of the curfew.
"Do you believe them?" Fr Viktor wanted to know, when I asked about the significance of a Russian ceasefire. St John's church itself was damaged at the start of the full-scale war and its windows on one side are still boarded up. "Maybe there will be a pause," one parishioner called Larisa suggested.
"But then Russia will only launch even more intense attacks. We've seen that before." At a military training ground about 12 miles (19km) from the Russian border, members of Yasni Ochi strike UAV unit, part of Khartia corps, are spending the weekend testing new kit for the frontline. They load new kamikaze drones with explosive, then practise diving at targets.
Their commander, Heorhiy, has ordered his troops to sit tight during the 32-hour ceasefire unless they're attacked. But he is sure that will happen. "Russia says one thing, then does the other.
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