Joanna Kikissis

Ukrainians celebrated their fifth Easter under siege from Russia, which launched a full-scale war in 2022.

They filled churches to declare Christos Vukres.

Christ is risen.

The truce to celebrate Orthodox Easter was supposed to start on Saturday afternoon.

By Sunday, though, Ukraine's military said it recorded combat clashes on the front line and Russian drone and shelling strikes in civilian areas.

Russia is also accusing Ukraine of drone strikes in Russian regions that injured several people.

Joanna Kikissis, NPR News, Kyiv.

Ukraine's state-owned electricity generating company, Centronego, said that the Russian attacks had reduced capacity to, quote, zero at thermal power plants.

Foreign Minister Andriy Sibycha said that Russian drones also targeted two nuclear power substations deep in western Ukraine.

Every fall, Russia steps up attacks on Ukraine's power and heating grid to force a harsh winter on Ukrainian cities.

Many Ukrainians have adapted by using backup energy storage devices and generators in their homes and businesses.

This year, Ukraine has attacked Russian oil depots and refineries to weaken what it calls Russia's war machine.

Joanna Kikissis, NPR News, Kyiv.