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Chaplain conducts Easter service for Gara drone pilots in Zaporizhzhia region

Military chaplain Father Stepan blesses paskas (Ukrainian Easter cakes) with holy water ahead of a combat mission in the Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine, on April 8, 2026. On the eve of Orthodox Easter, the priest visits the position of the Gara strike drone pilots from the Striletskyi Special Unit. Father Stepan holds an Easter prayer dedicated to the Resurrection of Christ and consecrates the aircraft of the Zaporizhzhia police. (Photo by Dmytro Smolienko/Ukrinform/NurPhoto)

Photo ID	#13556895
Date Taken	8 April 2026
Location	N/A
Photographer	Dmytro Smolienko/Ukrinform/NurPhoto
Category	Unrest, Conflicts and War
Copyright	© 2026 NurPhoto - Dmytro Smolienko/Ukrinform/NurPhoto

Ukraine conflict Russian invasion Ukraine war war conflict Russia-Ukraine war religion Christianity Easter Orthodox Christianity drone warfare Gara chaplain Zaporizhzhia region priest soldier holy water blessing consecration paska Military chaplain Father Stepan blessings paskas Ukrainian Easter cakes holy water combat mission Zaporizhzhia region Ukraine April 8 2026 Orthodox Easter priest Gara strike drone pilots Striletskyi Special Unit Easter prayer Resurrection of Christ consecration aircraft Zaporizhzhia police Dmytro Smolienko Ukrinform NO USE RUSSIA NO USE BELARUS religious ceremony military operation holy blessing Easter tradition drone pilots special unit Easter celebration spiritual support military chaplaincy religious service Ukrainian military Easter blessing holy rituals.