Life in Ukraine

In Kherson, Russian drones hunt civilians in the streets, while underground, Ukrainian midwives help bring life into the world.

On April 20, Christians across Ukraine and around the world—Protestants, Catholics, and Orthodox—celebrated Easter together. We traveled to the front-line zone in the Zaporizhzhia direction to mark the holiday with the chaplains of the 108th Territorial Defense Brigade and see what Easter looks like for soldiers and civilians in a time of war.

Russia’s missile strike near a playground in Kryvyi Rih killed nine children. These photos show the devastating aftermath.

In Kherson, every sunrise could be the last. Even a brief visit reveals the brutal rhythm of life under constant Russian fire. But the city stands, thanks to its people. From shopkeepers to rescue crews, especially the State Emergency Service, everyday acts of courage keep the city alive.

Amid the wreckage of war, some fight each day to reclaim their lives and land. In one of the world’s most heavily mined villages—located in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region—a house stands amid the ruins left by Russia’s invasion: a house Ihor built. This is the story of a farmer who chose to return home and rebuild, despite everything Russia has taken.

The full scale of Russian atrocities in Bucha, known as the Bucha massacre, surfaced only after its liberation on March 31, 2022—bodies in the streets, mass graves, homes reduced to rubble. But this isn’t just a story of devastation. On one street, residents have been reclaiming their town step by step—burying their dead and rebuilding their lives.