Watch: Ukrainian Couple Marry At Frontline In Kyiv As Other Soldiers Sing For Them
Mumbai: A Ukrainian couple who have been together for 22 years and have an 18-year-old daughter decided to formalize their relationship by marrying on the defence line in Kyiv on Sunday. When war with Russia broke out last month, bride Lesia Ivashenko quit her job and joined the regional defence forces to defend her district on the outskirts of Kyiv.
Since the start of the Russian offensive, she has not seen her partner Valery Filimonov until their wedding on Sunday. Only after this did both of them officially tie the knot.
A video was shared online by German war reporter Paul Ronzheimer, who works for BILD and covers the Russia-Ukraine conflict from Kyiv. The clip shows the couple singing a Ukrainian song surrounded by their teammates.
Taras Kompanichenko, a famous Ukrainian artist who volunteers in the regional defence force, can be seen playing the bandura and singing at the wedding
The bride and groom were wearing their military uniforms for the wedding and a soldier held a helmet over the bride as her wedding crown. The video has been viewed over 1.6 million times.
https://twitter.com/ronzheimer/status/1500429751617478657?s=20&t=1GdRTAYMfpaDrfBxsTqalA
“Of course, I’m happy. First of all, I’m glad we’re alive, that this day began, that my husband is alive, and he’s with me. And we decided – who knows what will happen tomorrow – we should get married in front of the state, in front of God. And we have an adult daughter, and I think she’s happy that we finally did it,” she said after the pair officially tied the knot.
“It is very sad that it happened to us (meaning Russian invasion), that our family cannot be together. For the first time since the war started, I saw my husband, we serve in different places. But I know we will win, I can’t believe I just know,” said Lecia.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko and his brother boxer Wladimir came to congratulate the newlyweds.
(With Agency Inputs)
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