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Today, April 12, Ukrainians celebrate Easter. On this day, more than ever, faith in the victory of peace over war is strong. Four years ago, everyone prayed for Ukraine to endure. They prayed and fought for it. Four years later, everyone is praying and fighting for Ukraine to live in peace. This was emphasized by the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and First Lady Olena Zelenska in their Easter address. UATV English provides the full text of their message.
Dear Ukrainians!
“God is in the midst of the city, and it shall not be moved.” These words are inscribed here — above our Oranta in our great Saint Sophia. And these words are endowed with extraordinary strength, which we have felt for more than 1,500 days of the battle for life, in which unshakable are our Ukraine, our capital, our people, and our faith. And this is especially important today, when the war is not only on the battlefield, but also a fierce battle of emotions — of character and spirit, truth against lies, faith against despair, hope against hopelessness.
It is not easy for all of us to wage this struggle. Especially in times of turbulence, when it seems that the world is falling into an abyss and no one knows what tomorrow will be like. At such moments, it is precisely Easter and its meanings that show us how not to give up, where to find light so as not to lose our way. These answers, these signs are near us. In our loved ones, in our families, our people, in every action, look, embrace, in every message and every word of support. In our “How are you?”, “Don’t be afraid, I am here,” “Take care of yourself,” “Everything will be fine.”
This light — the light in our people — gives us strength to hold together as one big family. A family — Ukraine. And exactly like this — together — we overcame this winter. The hardest in our history, but it lost. It lost to us. And the cold retreated without glory, and we awaited our spring, and today we celebrate our Easter together.
For the fifth year in a row, we are doing this — despite the pain, all the trials, and the evil surrounding our land. We do it proving that Ukrainians always remain Ukrainians. And no war can erase this. So this day for us is always about family, the warmth of a native home, about children’s laughter within it.
So that this laughter may sound, thousands of Ukrainians at the front defend the country and their families. No matter how dark the clouds over the sky, we preserve our identity, family traditions, we prepare every year, gather the Easter basket, paint pysanky, bake Easter bread, decorate our homes, plant trees and flowers — and all of this is not about food or decoration, but about a people who strive for life to flourish around them.
And this is exactly the meaning that fills Easter for all of us. It has been so for all the centuries during which Saint Sophia has stood, and it is so today — when Ukraine stands firm, persistent, unshakable. Knowing for whom and for what. So that after the fifth Easter during war — the first peaceful Easter comes. Across all our land. For all our people.
When the Easter bells will not be interrupted by air raid sirens. When winter and all evil will retreat from our land. And everyone will wait for their loved ones — from the front, captivity, occupation. When loved ones are near, grandchildren in the arms of our parents, and we are once again at one table. This is worth fighting for. And we have been doing it for 1,509 days. And on Easter, more than ever, our faith is strong — faith in the victory of peace over war.
Four years ago, we all prayed for Ukraine to endure. We prayed and fought for it. Four years later, we all pray and fight for Ukraine to live in peace. We rely not only on heavenly forces, but also on our Security and Defense Forces, believing equally in God’s mercy and our courage, hoping for the protection of our Oranta and the precision of our long-range capabilities.
Today Ukrainians not only believe in miracles, but create miracles themselves — daily, with their own hands, through their actions, work, courage, dedication, and strength of spirit. To stay together. To stand by our own. To believe in Ukraine. To believe in each other. As long as this remains unchanged — evil is powerless.
So may the hope and warmth of this day unite the hearts of all our people. May God protect those who protect us. And may the heavens guard all those who protect both our sky and our land. And may the will of all who fight against unfreedom be strong. May everyone who helps and seeks always find. Everyone who is on the way will overcome it. Everyone who does everything possible for Ukraine does not lose faith that everything is possible.
We sincerely congratulate you on this great bright day. All the incredible people. Incredible children. Boys and girls courageous beyond their years who have not forgotten how to believe in good. Our mothers and fathers, all our cities and villages that deserve a peaceful life. To see calm days and nights, the triumph of justice, light, truth, and the victory of peace — across all our land. May it be so. May there be peace. And there will be Ukraine. Happy Easter, dear Ukrainians!
Christ is Risen! He is risen indeed!
