The two met in October 2019 during a protest in central Kiev. Their big day was to take place at a restaurant on the Dnieper River “with a very, very cute patio,” Yaryna told CNN. “Just the two of us, the river and beautiful lights.” Instead, they married while their country is under attack by Russia and the air raid sirens could be heard in the background. “It’s the happiest moment of your life, and then you walk out and you hear that.”
The couple joined the Ukrainian armed forces after the wedding to help fight. “It is a difficult situation. We are going to fight for our country. We might die, and we wanted to be together before it all starts.”
What exactly they will do and where, the two do not know yet at the time of the interview, but Yaryna is determined. “We have to protect Ukraine. We must protect the people we love and the land we live on. I hope for the best, but I will do everything to protect my country.”