Ukrainian Soldier Blinded in Combat Finds New Joy at Wedding He Cannot See

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Rendered sightless by a Russian mortar attack, Ukrainian army veteran Ivan Soroka was unable to witness his bride Vladislava Ryabets as she entered his familial residence, adorned in a strapless white gown and holding a bouquet of white blossoms.

Nevertheless, when the 25-year-old Ryabets approached him, an emotional Soroka was overwhelmed with happiness, symbolizing a fresh life chapter commencing after artillery fire from the adversary robbed him of his vision.

“Upon my injury, my immediate thought was, ‘Who will desire me now?’” Soroka, 27, revealed as he sat in his home in a village near the outskirts of Kyiv.

He added, “I’ve managed to reconstruct myself. I perceive the world through my emotions and sensations.”

During the nuptial ceremony held in Kyiv, Ukraine on September 9, 2023, Ryabets tenderly touched Soroka’s visage.

In Bortnychi village, an atmosphere of festivity pervaded as dozens congregated under a tent adorned with decorations. The event, steeped in rural Ukrainian customs, was complete with folk music and a round loaf embellished with viburnum berries symbolizing fertility. Yet, under this joyful exterior lay a grim reality: Ukraine continues to be ensnared in a brutal conflict with Russia.

Soroka first encountered reporters from Big Big News at a rehabilitation facility dedicated to soldiers who have lost their vision in warfare. Love in the time of conflict is not uncommon in Ukraine; prosthetic-limbed young men often stroll hand in hand with their loved ones.

Couples manage to keep their relationships alive despite the exigencies of war. Short visits and temporary reunions become precious moments for these families, as the uncertainty of the military conflict hangs over them.

Nataliia, Soroka’s 86-year-old grandmother, expressed her sorrow that her grandson would never see the beauty of the world but found consolation in his union with Ryabets, describing her as a ‘golden woman.’

The couple first made contact on April 6, 2022, via an online dating platform, while Soroka was recuperating from pneumonia in a military healthcare facility. The mutual attraction was immediate and powerful.

Only six weeks following their initial meeting, during a short reprieve from combat for Soroka, the couple discussed their future engagement jokingly, but their commitment became increasingly serious, even as Soroka was deployed to Bakhmut for an intense and prolonged military operation.

On August 2, during a tactical retreat near Horlivka, Soroka was critically injured by a mortar shell, losing his eyesight and sustaining leg injuries. Communication was severed due to his damaged phone, causing Ryabets considerable anxiety.

Eventually, Soroka was able to retrieve his SIM card with the assistance of a nurse and reestablish contact with his soon-to-be wife. Despite his visible scars and unhealed eyes, Ryabets’ commitment to Soroka remained unshaken.

As the celebration unfolded, traditional Ukrainian rites were observed. In a ceremonial act symbolizing their new chapter as empty nesters, the parents of the bride and groom were placed in a wheelbarrow and immersed in a nearby pond. Guests offered vodka to passersby, adhering to a belief that consuming bitter alcohol would reduce bitterness in the marriage.

Marking this transformative phase of their lives, Soroka and Ryabets sealed their union with a kiss, eliciting cheers of “To the happy couple!” from the assembled crowd.

For in-depth coverage of the Ukraine war, please visit https://bigbignews.net/russia-ukraine.

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