Kyiv – On the morning of September 8, Liudmyla Ryzhak and her fiancé, Ukrainian soldier Leonid Ryzhak, walked into the city registry office to exchange vows despite a Russian strike that devastated their apartment the night before.
Blast shatters home, not hopes
Hours before the ceremony, a Russian missile hit a warehouse across the street, sending a powerful blast wave into the couple’s building. The explosion blew out windows, shattered furniture and left a column of black smoke rising behind a nearby playground. Liudmyla’s white tulle wedding overlay was torn and speckled with glass, and Leonid’s traditional embroidered shirt was covered in dust.
Both fled the apartment with Liudmyla’s six‑year‑old daughter and two guinea pigs, seeking shelter before a second strike hit. By the time the follow‑up blast arrived, they were already safe, but the damage rendered their home uninhabitable until repairs can be made.
Faith and perseverance guide the couple
“If God gave me a continuation of life, then why should I put it off?” Liudmyla said, recalling a previous attack on her home in August. She and Leonid, both parents from earlier marriages, have endured months of air‑raid sirens and delays at the registry office before finally securing a wedding date.
Leonid, who serves on a drone‑operating team in the Pokrovsk area, arrived in Kyiv for a brief vacation just weeks before the attacks intensified. He kept his spirits high, telling his bride, “It’s fine. We’ll get through it.”
Wedding proceeds amid ongoing danger
When the couple arrived at the registry office at 10:40 a.m., a new siren sounded, prompting a temporary closure. After three hours of explosions echoing through the city, the alert finally lifted and the ceremony resumed. Leonid wore army trousers and bright‑yellow‑sole sneakers because he could not retrieve his own shoes from the rubble, while Liudmyla’s dress bore tiny holes from broken glass.
Before entering the hall, the pair shared nervous jokes about their damaged apartment. The officiant reminded them, “Love is when two people become a team.” Moments later, they were officially married.
Neighbors celebrate resilience
Neighbors who had been clearing debris stopped to congratulate the newlyweds, saying, “We should all be celebrated, that we survived.” Liudmyla reflected, “We’re gaining a new life because we survived. It could have ended today, and none of this would have happened.”
The wedding stands as a testament to the perseverance of Kyiv’s citizens, who continue to build families and communities despite the relentless threat of Russian attacks.
Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.
