As Orthodox Christians in Ukraine celebrated Easter on Sunday, dozens of prisoners of war were freed in a move seen as a goodwill gesture between Ukraine and Russia. The release of the prisoners follows negotiations in Minsk and comes amid ongoing tensions between the two nations. The exchange has been praised as a step towards peace in the region and a sign of hope in a time of uncertainty.
This year, as Ukrainians marked Easter for the second time since the Russian invasion, more than 100 Ukrainian prisoners of war were released in a major exchange with Russia. The Easter celebrations were more subdued due to the security risks posed by an ongoing curfew, which barred the faithful from holding customary all-night services. Despite this, Ukrainian authorities and citizens shared messages of hope, linking the story of Jesus’s resurrection to their longing for peace and a Ukrainian victory.
Presidential adviser, Andriy Yermak, announced that 130 soldiers, sailors, border guards, and others who were captured by Moscow were on their way back home following a “big Easter prisoner exchange”. He stated that those released included troops who had fought in the eastern mining city of Bakhmut, which has been the focus of Russia’s offensive for months. Mr Yermak emphasized that the lives of Ukrainian people were of the highest value and Kyiv’s ultimate goal was to bring back all remaining prisoners of war.
However, there was no immediate information concerning the number of Russian prisoners released. Nevertheless, the founder of the Wagner Group, a Kremlin-affiliated paramilitary force operating in eastern Ukraine, released a video showing Ukrainian prisoners of war preparing for the exchange. In the video, founder Yevgeny Prigozhin instructs a soldier to prepare the Ukrainians to leave Russian-controlled territory by lunchtime on Sunday. The prisoners are then shown boarding trucks and walking along a road.
In the Easter address released on Easter morning, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described the holiday as marking “the victory of good, the victory of truth, the victory of life”, and stressed the unity of the Ukrainian people in confronting Russian aggression. He spoke of belief in victory uniting everyone, especially at Easter, which had traditionally been a family holiday for Ukrainians- a day of warmth, hope, and great unity. Zelensky added that Ukrainians have one big family, Ukraine, one big home, and one big goal, which is victory for all.
Among other Ukrainian officials, General Valery Zaluzhnyy drew parallels between the Christian message of resurrection and renewal and Ukraine’s hopes for victory. He stated that Easter is a holiday of great hope, one that would bring peace. He also extended his appreciation to all front-line soldiers for their bravery in holding defence lines in the trenches, stay in the dugouts, and carry out combat duty, while the rest of the country celebrates.
Despite the shared Orthodox holiday, Russian shelling and missile attacks continued, according to social media statements from Ukrainian regional officials. Officials in the country’s south and east reported that churches had also been targeted.
In central Kyiv, people gathered in the courtyard of the landmark St Michael’s Golden-Domed Monastery on Sunday morning to have their Easter eggs and baskets of food blessed by a priest. For two consecutive years, Moscow’s brutal war has interrupted holiday routines.
Alla Voronina, one of those who came to St Michael’s with baskets containing Easter cakes and multi-coloured eggs, expressed the difficulties imposed by current restrictions on the residents’ morale. Nonetheless, she and her family would follow the security recommendations and go straight home after receiving the blessing. Many queued up to have food blessed and echoed Zaluzhnyy’s words and expressed hope that Easter at a time of war would inspire them with hope and faith in the future, victory of Ukraine, and God’s protection of their Motherland.
Russian President, Vladimir Putin, attended an Easter midnight service in Moscow’s Christ the Saviour Cathedral led by Russian Orthodox Church head Patriarch Kirill, who has always supported the war. Putin commended Patriarch Kirill for his work aimed at preserving enduring historical, spiritual, moral, and family values, and the upbringing and education of young people. However, Ukrainian officials reported that Russian shelling overnight still hit civilian centres, including an Orthodox church in the town of Komyshuvakha, killing at least four people and injuring eight others.
