“ We know what we are fighting ” – The Easter address of Zelensky to Ukraine in full

President Volodymyr Zelensky praised the “resilience, compassion and humanity” of Ukraine in his Easter speech on April 20, adding that the country’s faith “did not disappear over 1,152 days of large -scale war”.

This year, Easter falls the same day for Orthodox and Catholic Christians, and in Ukraine, the days preceding the holidays were particularly dark.

In the aftermath of several particularly brutal Russian attacks – including a Sumy strike which killed at least 35 people and injured more than 100 – Russia announced a “ceasefire” of a day along the front line to mark the holidays.

Ukraine has already reported violations of ceasefire through the battlefield.

Since the start of the large -scale invasion of Russia in 2022, the annual Easter addresses of Zelensky have brought a common thread – a call to faith in the face of despair in wartime. You will find below a translation of this year’s message to the Ukrainian people.

Dear Ukrainians!

Today is a very special day, a day that we are still looking forward to, a day celebrated by millions – Easter. A day which is a ray of light – particularly brilliant and strong at the time when the dark clouds try to cover our sky. A day that gives us all hope and reminds us: Evil has its time, but God has his day. It is one of the meanings anchored in the history of Christ – of his earthly suffering and his death, and his resurrection; Of the truth which, sooner or later, evil will retire and that life will prevail.

Today, these words resonate in all Ukrainian hearts. They strengthen our faith, which, despite everything, has not disappeared more than 1,152 days of large -scale war.

Each of us has experienced such moments-when it hurts deeply, when it is unbearably difficult, and you ask: “God, why does it happen to us? The strikes, the explosions, the shots-all this suffering, all this evil. How can people be killed by the dozens in short on Sunday palm? God, don’t you see?

How a playground was affected in Kryvyi Rih. How Kharkiv, Dnipro, our Odesa and dozens of our other cities burn daily. When will it end? When our land, our employees, will our children finally hear silence? How to keep our faith after all this? “”

And when the mind finds no answer, you start to listen to your heart. And something invisible but very strong inside, you don’t let your hands fall. This shows you where to find the light, so you don’t lose your way.

Then you start to see the people around you. You look in the eyes of your loved ones, the faces of those who are close to you. You feel their embrace, feel support – not just those you know, but even foreigners. The support of the Ukrainians. And you realize that you share the same values. And it is these values ​​that united us – not by chance – we unite the first day of the war, and we still maintain together.

It is the will. Resilience. Compassion and humanity. This is what God is. It is his presence. He is within our people. And so there is light in people. And so there is strength in people.

In each action, with each small step a difficult path and in each word of support. In each word: “How are you?” “How can I help?” “Take care of yourself.”

We know what we defend. We know what we are fighting for. For whom and for what. And so each time, no matter how difficult it becomes, we still do not lose faith. Because this faith is in each other. In those who stand next to you. In Ukrainians.

Faith that evil has its time, and God has his day.

Dear Ukrainian people, let this day come. That the time of evil pass. Let life arrive. Peace Day. Ukraine day. A day that lasts centuries. And we once again bring together a table on a peaceful Easter – when we feel warmth, calm, peace in our souls and, of course, the joy of celebration. When everything is like that.

We wanted it during the 1,152 days. We are united in this area. Every day, and especially today – when Ukrainians from all Christian confessions celebrate Easter on the same day. Together.

Together, we are fighting for Ukraine. And together we pray for Ukraine.

For those who cannot be with their families this Easter.
For those who are on the front line, standing with their brothers in arms.
For our defenders – the warriors of light.
We ask God to protect those who protect us.
To strengthen the will of those who are now in captivity.
For our prisoners, for all those who have to go home.

We ask God to help all those who consecrate their lives to help others.
To house those who, thanks to their daily work, save Ukraine.
May God protect all those who save, heal and teach.

Today we pray for everyone – for our children.
For each boy and girl who deserves a happy childhood.
For our fathers and mothers, who deserve peaceful old age.
For all our people, who deserves long -awaited peace.

Dear Ukrainians! Our people take a very hard path. But I think the keyword here is: walking. Overcome.

And despite everything, we always find the strength every morning to wake up, go ahead, do what we can – wherever it is necessary – for those waiting for us.

And the source of energy for us can come from many things around us: the smile of a son or a girl, a mother’s voice, thoughts of those on the front line or a memory of someone who protected you with his body. We can find inspiration in the news of the victories of our people, in our culture, our books, our poems, music. And, of course, we are inspired by the Easter symbol and the history of the resurrection of Christ.

This is why we know with certainty:
Not all the stones launched on us will remain like ruins on our earth.
All the stones have launched our path – we will transform them into a solid base for the future.
The future of freedom.
The future of peace.
The future memory of what we have overcome – and what we have achieved.

Because in difficult times, it is not only the victory of the weapons that counts the most, but the victory of the mind.

Our victory. The victory of our mind.

That all this is achieved.
May God help us.
That there is peace. May there be Ukraine.

Christ is resurrected!
Indeed, it is risen!

What is in a Ukrainian Easter basket? The answer is not chocolate eggs

For nearly two -thirds of the Ukrainians who identify themselves as Orthodox Christians, Easter is known as the Velykden, meaning “big day” in Ukrainian. This year, he is celebrated on Sunday, April 20. The Orthodox Church of Ukraine calculates the date of Easter according to the revised julian calendar. It falls …