Ukraine's Heavy Heart: A Mother's Hope Amidst War

In the western city of Lviv, a cemetery tells a story of loss and resilience. Olya Kachmaryk, a mother who lost her son in the ongoing conflict with Russia, visits his grave. She hopes for peace, even if it means making tough choices. Her son, Oleksandr, is one of over 1, 000 soldiers buried in this quiet corner of Lychakiv Cemetery. With only a few spaces left, the scale of loss is evident. The war, now in its fourth year, has taken a heavy toll. Ukraine is under pressure to accept a peace deal that might involve giving up some territories. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has warned that this is Ukraine's most challenging moment yet. He insists that any deal must not betray Ukraine's interests. Oksana Rymaruk, who lost her husband in June, supports negotiations for peace. She wants her child to grow up in freedom. The sight of so many graves at Lychakiv is "really striking, " she says. Meanwhile, authorities are preparing a new cemetery nearby to accommodate more casualties. Despite the losses, a majority of Ukrainians still reject the idea of giving up territory. Local officials have already started clearing a new plot for future burials. Antonina Ryshko, who lost her son Marian, questions what his sacrifice was for. She dismisses the current peace deal, urging for a better one.