Ukraine correspondent
BBC/Matthew Goddard
“I have no future plans at all,” remarked Oleksandr Bezhan, as he stands beside an empty, frozen paddock where he once fished along the Dnipro River in southern Ukraine. “Simply waking up in the morning feels like an achievement.”
Malokaterynivka is located a mere 15km (9 miles) north of Ukraine’s front line in the Zaporizhzhia region.
Should US President Donald Trump manage to end the war, Malokaterynivka hopes to find itself on the favorable side of that front line.
I last traveled to this region in 2023, at a time when Ukraine initiated a highly anticipated counter-offensive.
Back then, Ukrainians hoped for a victory in this ongoing conflict. After all, they had successfully defended Kyiv and liberated significant areas of land elsewhere.
However, 18 months later, the sounds of artillery resemble defeat, showcasing Russia’s overwhelming presence.
The front line remains largely unchanged; however, the once wide river has vanished.
With the destruction of the Russian-held Kakhovka dam downstream, the area transformed into a vast stretch of scrubland.
This barren landscape embodies the stalemate in which Ukraine currently finds itself. While the White House aims to conclude the war, the process is more complex than simply signaling the end.
“If the front line becomes a permanent border, it would be alarming… conflict could erupt at any time,” Oleksandr explains.
The exposed riverbed serves as a barrier between us and the territory occupied by Russia. The distant sunlight glimmers on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, under Moscow’s control since 2022.
Both Ukraine and the US seek peace, but that seems to be where their agreement ends.
Washington’s vision, coupled with the realities on the battlefield, suggests that Russia will likely maintain control over the Ukrainian territories it has captured.
Ukraine demands substantial security guarantees to deter potential incursions from across the river.
Instead, Donald Trump has dashed Kyiv’s aspirations of joining the NATO alliance while he concentrates on Russia.
Having observed and reported on Ukraine’s struggle for over three years, this is particularly challenging for the nation.
There are sentiments of betrayal. Analysts critique either President Zelensky or the shifting foreign policy of Ukraine’s primary ally.
“The border won’t be our decision,” says Oleksandr. “It likely won’t pan out, but Seoul is only 30km from North Korea, and they manage to live and thrive somehow.”
BBC/Matthew Goddard
The challenge of finding a new purpose for the residents of Malokaterynivka lies at the core of Ukraine’s future.
While politicians engage in discussions, Ukrainians continue to battle and sacrifice.
Villagers gather to commemorate a local soldier named Oleksandr. Half of the graves in the cemetery are newly dug.
The ceremony must conclude within 25 minutes due to the ongoing risk of artillery strikes. Mourners flinch and take cover when his fellow soldiers fire a gun salute.
“I don’t have any hope for a ceasefire,” says his widow, Natalya, who still longs to be proven wrong.
“They just keep sending more of our young men to the frontlines. If only there was some way to bring it to an end.”
Beside the river lies a disused railway line surrounded by barbed wire.
“It’s there to prevent Russian operatives from sabotaging the railway,” explains Lyudmyla Volyk, a lifelong resident of Malokaterynivka.
Trains used to travel all the way to Crimea in the south.
“We hope it will be restored one day,” says the 65-year-old optimistically. “And that we will visit our Crimea once more.”
However, the peninsula has been under Russian occupation for eleven years, making that hope seem distant.
BBC/Matthew Goddard
President Zelensky is adamant that he won’t agree to any settlement that doesn’t include Ukraine’s interests. But does Lyudmyla place her trust in him to achieve a protective agreement?
“We want to have faith,” she replies with a deep sigh.
If Donald Trump succeeds in securing peace for Ukraine, it would be welcomed by many.
The desire for peaceful nights, silence from sirens, and the return of soldiers resonates strongly.
However, as it stands, any form of relief would quickly become overshadowed by uncertainties surrounding the feasibility of a ceasefire and who would uphold it.
Kyiv views the lack of clarity as something still negotiable. The issue for Ukraine is that Russia holds a similar perspective.
Additional reporting by Svitlana Libet, Toby Luckhurst, and Hanna Chornous
