‘During the war, you only have today’: Ukrainian couples press ahead with weddings and proposals as horror unfolds around them
- Despite heavy bombardment from Russian troops, some couples have continued to press ahead with nuptials – even bringing them forward in some cases
- One bride, Yaroslava Fedorash, shared how she’d chosen to change the date of her big day when her husband-to-be signed up for the Ukraine army
- Image of her in traditional Ukrainian dress kissing her new husband was posted on Twitter by Ukraine’s head of the Center for Civil Liberties
- Elsewhere, they have been proposals as couples seize moments of joy
Ukrainian couples who were due to tie the knot before the Russian invasion have been sharing how they’ve refused to let the conflict change their plans.
Several proposals have also taken place, including one soldier who staged a military search so he could surprise his girlfriend as she was driven through a checkpoint in the city of Festiv, near Kyiv.
For some, there is an urgency to cement relationships. This week, Ukraine’s head of the Center for Civil Liberties, Oleksandra Matviichuk, shared a touching photo on Twitter of a woman named Yaroslava Fedorash kissing her uniformed new husband.
Explaining the wedding had been brought forward, the post read: ‘We applied on April 29, I always wanted to get married on this day.
‘But on February 24, Putin went completely insane. The groom joined the territorial defence, I became a volunteer. It didn’t make sense to wait any longer.’
She finished the message with the poignant words: ‘During the war you have only today.’
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Despite heavy bombardment from Russian troops, some couples have continued to press ahead with nuptials – even bringing them forward in some cases. A woman named Yaroslava Fedorash is seen kissing her uniformed new husband after she decided to bring forward her wedding, saying: ‘During the war, you only have today’
What appeared to be a search of a vehicle in the city of Fastiv quickly turned into the most unlikely of proposals, as a Ukrainian soldier presented his girlfriend, one of the passengers, with a ring and a posey
Surprise: The passenger looked shocked as she saw her partner down on one knee at the military checkpoint
Appearing to hold back tears, the woman turned to face her boyfriend, who was in full military uniform and carrying a rifle
The soldier asks for her hand in marriage as his comrades look on
She said yes! The couple embrace to cheers from the gathered crowd
On Tuesday, footage emerged of how a military checkpoint provided the unlikely backdrop for a romantic proposal, after a Ukrainian soldier pretended to search the passengers of a car before getting down on bended knee to ask his girlfriend – one of the passengers – to marry him.
The clip was believed to have been filmed in the city of Fastiv, close to capital Kyiv,
And on Sunday, images were shared of another newlywed couple, who were filmed getting married on the frontlines, donned in military uniform and serenaded by soldiers.
Video shared online shows a loved-up pair, said to be called Lesya and Valeriy, who are with the country’s territorial defence, celebrating their marriage near Kyiv.
Members of the National Guard of Ukraine, Oleksandr and Olena, kiss at their wedding at a checkpoint in unknown location on Tuesday
The couple take off their helmets momentarily to listen to the words of the priest who is marrying them
Holding their hands over traditional religious robes, the couple make their vows
A traditional cake and flowers are presented to the couple, as a Ukrainian flag billows in the background
One of the soldiers also appears to be wearing an Orthodox Christian cross, often seen at weddings in the country where the religion is followed by a majority of people.
Yesterday, there was another wedding between two soldiers.
Members of the National Guard of Ukraine, Oleksandr and Olena, were seen kissing in front of a Ukrainian flag at their wedding at a checkpoint in unknown location.
The couple took off their helmets momentarily to listen to the words of a priest and lay their hands on a religious cloth as they said their vows. Later, a cake and flowers were presented to the two soldiers.
Another couple chose to tie the knot while both were defending their country in the war; new bride Lesya can be seen holding a bouquet of flowers while Valeriy, her new husband, holds a champagne flute
The newlywed couple were filmed getting married while stationed on the frontline, donned in military uniform and surrounded by fellow soldiers
A minister, in uniform, reads vows out to the couple as they become man and wife
One of the soldiers also appears to be wearing an Orthodox Christian cross, often seen in weddings in the country
Lesya can be seen holding a bouquet of flowers as both her and Valeriy clutch champagne flutes.
Both the newlyweds were applauded and the bride looks to have swapped out her helmet for a white veil as she smiled and held Valeriy’s hand.
A group of fellow soldiers joined in a chorus to the couple, with one man playing what appears to be a bandura, a Ukrainian folk musical instrument similar to a lute.
The footage was shared by Paul Ronzheimer, reporter for German news outlet BILD-Zeitung.
It has since received around 22,000 views and accrued hundreds of likes, with most comments wishing them happiness and prosperity.
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