More than 100 Ukrainians have been released in Great exchange of prisoners of war with Russia Sunday, summit official Affirmed, where Orthodox Ukrainians celebrate Easter.
While the festivities subsided due to security risks, with Curfew bans believers from all-night customary services, the Ukrainian authorities and regular people Shared messages of Hope, link story of The resurrection of Jesus for their longing for Hello.
they also pray for Ukrainian victory over Moscow, which unleashed full-size invasion last February.
dozens of It was for families special Reasons to rejoice, as presidential advisor Andrei Yermak announced This is 130 soldiers, sailors, border guards and others who were captured by Moscow on they way back home after “big Easter Holiday prisoner exchange.”
Yermak said in cable post On Sunday that among the released soldiers who Fought near Bakhmut, the eastern mine city who has for Months were the focus of Russian grind offensive.
Spirits of our people she highest value for yermak said Kyiv’s goal had to bring back All remaining prisoners of war.
There was no immediate information on how Several Russian prisoners were released, but the press service of Founder of The Wagner Group, a Kremlin paramilitary group force Their fighters are outstanding in eastern ukraine, also On Sunday, a video was released showing Ukrainian prisoners of Prepare for war for exchange.
Post the video on Telegram messaging service, features Wagner founder Yevgeny Prigozhin has instructed a soldier to prepare Ukrainian prisoners of war to leave Russian-controlled territory “by lunchtime” Sunday. Then the prisoners of war are shown getting onto the trucks and walking along the road.
In his Easter address on Sunday morning, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described holiday As a sign of “victory.” of goodvictory of truthvictory of life, “and stressed the Ukrainian unit in the face of Russian aggression.
“Faith in Victory unites everyone of us Always, and especially today. On Easter, which has been since time immemorial family holiday for Day of the Ukrainians of warmth and hope and great lonliness. we one big family – Ukrainians. we’ve got one big home – Ukraine. we’ve got one big goal – victory for Zelensky said.
Similarly, Ukraine’s top soldier, General Valery Zalogny, drew parallels between the Christian message of Resurrection, Renewal, and the Hopes of Ukraine for victory.
Easter is a holiday of great Hopes. I hope he brings that us Hello. I believe that together, united, we will overcome enemy,” he wrote in FB post. he also Thanks all front line soldiers who He said he would “hold defense in Trenches, stay in The dugout, (…) bear out combat dutyLike the rest of The country celebrates.
Silent celebrations
In the center of Kyiv people Collected in Courtyard of The golden-domed St. Michael’s Monastery on Sunday morning for Easter eggs and their baskets of Food blessed by a priest. Curfew prevented most of them from attending traditional All night service there hours previously, with Many tuning in live flow instead.
Ukrainian churches are usually crowded on Sunday is Orthodox Easter. but this yearThe spacious yard was barely visible half full and font of people expected for The priest sprinkles holy water on Their baskets were ornate moving lightly.
to second year in Accordingly, the brutal Moscow war ceased holiday routine. Ukraine main This week, the security services issued a statement urging residents not to slow down in churches on Sunday, in Okay avoid congestion and reduce security risks.
Alla Voronina, one of the people who He came to Saint Michael with baskets containing Easter cakes and multicolored eggs, he said, were the restrictions “very hard” on population morale.
She constantly remembers how “It was before the war,” she told the Associated Press. family however follow Security recommendations moving forward home After receiving the blessing.
others in The line echoed Zaluzhnyy’s words about the wartime Easter being symbolic of Hopes.
Like never before, Easter every time of inspire war us with Hope and faith in the future and in Victory of ukraine, in God protection of Ina Holewitz said.
Another worshiper, Tatyana Voloshina, said she was praying for Ukrainian forceswho Defense us and make it possible for us to get this holiday.” she added She came to the monastery with She has personal pains and personal requests to God for Victory, peace and life.”
Despite participating in the Orthodox holiday, Russian bombing and missile attacks continued to sow destruction in Ukraine, according to social media Statements of Ukrainian regional officials.
Administrators in The south and east of the country said that the churches were not spared. conservative of east of Dnipropetrovsk regionSerhiy Lesk claimed in cable update That Russian forces stationed in Zaporizhia Ukraine nuclear power Church factory bombed in nearby town, injuring two civilians.
The Russians have a time again They asserted that they had nothing sacred. in for him post. He did not immediately provide evidence of strike or its consequences.
At least four civilians were killed and eight others were injured on Ukrainian officials reported on Saturday and evening on Sunday morning.
across the front line in territories occupied by Russia in Ukraine’s industrial east, the Kremlin’s eye head of Donetsk region He claimed that a Ukrainian hit killed him one civilians and wounded six others in The capital of the province of the same name.
Books by Dennis Pushlin in cable post This bombing hit Center of The citynear the Holy Transfiguration Cathedral.
Neither Pushlin’s claim nor the Ukrainian authorities’ claim regarding civilians death Casualty figures can be independently verified.
