A longtime Ukrainian couple, each of whom are serving to defend their nation towards Russia’s invasion, have been married Sunday on the protection line within the capital metropolis of Kyiv.
Until their wedding ceremony Sunday, Lesia Ivashchenko and her associate, Valerii Fylymonov, who’ve been collectively for 22 years and have an 18-year-old daughter, had not been capable of see one another for the reason that invasion began, in response to information reviews. “I’m happy that we are alive, that this day started, that my husband is alive and he is with me,” Ivashchenko stated after the ceremony.
Less than two weeks into the battle, the Russian invasion has resulted in additional than 1,000 civilian casualties and largely upended regular life within the nation. Some in any other case commonplace moments involving Ukrainian civilians, together with a younger Ukrainian lady’s rendition of a well-liked Disney music inside a bomb shelter, have drawn widespread consideration around the globe.
Ivashchenko stated she left her job when the battle broke out to assist territorial protection forces combat to guard her district, which is situated on the outskirts of Kyiv.
Vadim Ghirda/AP Photo
A video of the ceremony posted by the BBC exhibits Ivashchenko sporting a camouflage jacket and a veil whereas holding a bouquet of flowers. Fylymonov, who’s standing subsequent to her, seems to be sporting preventing gear, together with a helmet.
Standing in a area, they’re surrounded by a big group additionally bedecked in camouflage and preventing gear. At one level within the ceremony, the couple is showered with flower petals from a drone hovering above.
“We are determined to push back the enemy and take back our lands and win,” Ivashchenko was quoted as saying.
Сьогодні вітав бійців одного з батальйонів тероборони столиці Лесю та Валерія. Вони давно живуть в цивільному шлюбі, а тепер вирішили обвінчатися. Церемонія відбулася поруч з одним із блок-постів.
Життя триває! І життя Києва, киян, нашої держави ми будемо захищати! pic.twitter.com/ys2kNN12Ws
— Віталій Кличко (@Vitaliy_Klychko) March 6, 2022
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko attended the ceremony and congratulated the couple on their marriage. In an announcement on Twitter, he stated: “Life goes on! And we will protect the life of Kyiv, Kyivites, our state!”
Ivashchenko and Fylymonov usually are not the primary Ukrainian couple to tie the knot throughout Russia’s invasion. Yaryna Arieva and her associate, Sviatoslav Fursin, acquired married at St. Michael’s monastery in Kyiv shortly after Russia launched its assault, regardless of initially planning to carry the ceremony in May, CNN reported.
They determined to maneuver up the marriage as a result of they weren’t certain what affect the invasion would have on their future. Air raid sirens have been sounding exterior in the course of the ceremony, which Arieva described as “very scary.”
“The situation is hard. We are going to fight for our land,” Arieva informed CNN. “We maybe can die, and we just wanted to be together before all of that.”
Update 03/07/22, 11:45 a.m. ET: This story was up to date with extra data and background.