KHARKIV, UKRAINE: In what looks like one of the most unusual wedding locations, Evhenia Emerald married her boyfriend Evheniy Stypaniuk while defending the frontline in Kharkiv from the Russian invasion. Emerald, a sniper in the Ukrainian forces, shared the pictures of her wedding on her Instagram account. The pictures show her soldier husband and others from the military joining the extraordinary ceremony.
The 31-year-old sniper was seen dressed in a white wedding gown and a camouflage jacket as she held a gun in her hand. In other pictures, Emerald is seen embracing the wedding feels in the forest, signifying herself as the epitome of the Ukrainian resistance. It should come as no surprise that she is referred to as her nation’s “Joan of Arc”. She was also adamant that her marriage to Stypaniuk would not take away from her obligations on the Ukrainian frontline as they defend their territory from the forces sent by Vladimir Putin. The wedding took place in a forest in Kharkiv on October 14, which is also Ukraine’s Defenders’ Day, a day set aside to honor the country’s military veterans. As the couple exchanged vows in the forest, Emerald held a bouquet of wheat ears rather than the customary flowers.
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In the video shared by Emerald on Instagram, the military couple signed the marriage documents on top of an ammunition box, exchanged wedding rings, and kissed each other after being pronounced man and wife. After the ceremony, they were joined by fellow soldiers and companions who congratulated them with red rose bouquets and well wishes.
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According to Emerald’s Instagram profile, she is an elite marksman in the Ukrainian forces who has stood up to fight the Russians invading her country. The couple reportedly started dating shortly after the conflict began in February 2022 and got engaged in August. Before the Russian invasion, Emerald, the mother of a little daughter, worked as a jeweler.
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Enthralled by the jubilant proceedings, Emerald wrote on Instagram, “Today I officially became the wife of a military man. I could not imagine a more perfect wedding!”
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Understanding the reality of the situation, Emerald was eager to get married as soon as possible because of the cloud of uncertainty that loomed over the country. “We understand that every day could be the last one and we don’t want to postpone life for later,” she added.
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