War & Disasters · International · Religions

Donbas: the last of the faithful

Sloviansk, Ukraine, 18 February 2026Photos and text: David Taché18 images

01 / 18 · Sloviansk, Ukraine, 18 February 2026David Taché / Collectif DR

In war-torn Donbas, the flame of Catholicism refuses to go out as Easter approaches.

In Sloviansk and the neighboring city of Kramatorsk, Father Viktor, both priest and chaplain, runs tiny parishes within range of the front. Here, there are no ringing bells, only the dull, constant rumble of artillery. Father Viktor’s church is modest but open to all, civilians and soldiers alike, whatever their faith. It houses a place of life where meals, joys and tears are shared. A fragile minority in Orthodox land (Catholics make up only about 0.3% of the population in Donbas), this community embodies a form of silent resistance.

Usually, only five or six of them attend Mass, but the faithful are slightly more numerous during Holy Week. The Easter liturgy and processions adapt to curfew constraints and the constant threat of strikes. Despite everything, fervor remains, sometimes even strengthened. As Easter approaches, the celebration of Christ’s resurrection in this religion, their faith is expressed in these simple gestures and shared moments, as a way of asserting that despite the war, life goes on.

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18 images