"We are caught between two fires" – the Svyatohirsk monks are getting plenty of what the Russians and Ukrainians intend for each other.

In the Sviatohirsk Lavra aviary, colorful parrots fly instead of drones, while peacocks march proudly on the ground. Nearby, the Assumption Cathedral bears bullet and shrapnel marks. Monks and nuns walk quietly after mass towards Sunday lunch. Archimandrite Feofan explains that they aim to reflect heaven through God's creation. The nuns wear skulls embroidered on their foreheads, symbolizing their dedication to Christ after death. Despite the serene atmosphere, the front line is only 13 kilometers away, surrounded by devastation from the ongoing conflict. Although neither side targets the monastery, debris from the fighting frequently falls on it.