A story about love, faith and last photo in a dress

She knew they would be together on the first day of dating. And he always sought to be near – even when they were shared by the war.

Roman is a 25-year-old soldier of the 30th Separate Mechanized Brigade named after Prince Konstantin Ostrozky, who disappeared In Donetsk in June 2022, shortly before rotation.

Since then, his bride Tanya organizes events for the fers of missing fighters, attends peaceful actions and is doing everything to hug her lover again.

The girl shared her history in an interview for « Ukrainian Truth. Life ».

« We're for the seventh year together but the last four – at a distance »

Summer 2017. Tanya met a novel in the village of Dmitrovichi in Lviv, where she came from. The guy came there to play football and immediately liked Tanya.

« Once we met in the park near the Academy of Land Forces with friends, and everything was twisting. I told my girlfriends, » Here you will see, we will ever be together. «  -says a 24-year-old girl.

Novel He studied at the Academy of Land Forces, and then went to service before the 30th brigade. He wanted to serve in the power of special operations, passed a special course, but could not translate.

Sometimes Tanya went to her lover to Zhytomyr region, where his brigade was based. The meetings were short but unforgettable.

« These were the best moments made together. We walked, spent time, loved in dash … I also liked to come suddenly, as it was on his 22th anniversary. I came in the morning. When he saw me, I thought it was a dream. – the girl shares.

In 2021, Roman went to the east, and on New Year's Eve he arrived in Lviv and declared his beloved. Tanya said « yes ».

The couple's day also spent a couple together. But they could not think that in a few days of life, each Ukrainian would change dramatically.

”February 24 2022 In the morning, when it all started, I first called Roman with the words: « You told me that there should be no war », «  Tanya says.

The woman works as an artistic director of the People's House in Lviv region. From the beginning of a full -scale war, she and her colleagues disassembled humanitarian aid from Germany. Sometimes they had to spend the night at work.

Tanya also began to help the brigade of her lover as a volunteer.

« I remember the moment when I called the novel and told that they did not have food, only bread remained and no one came to their position. Before that, he never complained about the lack of food, there was always something. We gathered everything necessary and surprisingly sent the boys.

Later, I opened a fee to the thermal imager, which was closed per day. And before Easter she found a generator for the boys. I regret that I did not go with the volunteers to Roman, because I was denied. If I only knew that in June the connection would break down – I would go without thinking“ She remembers.

« May not be able to see you in a dress, » novel wrote

On June 4, Tanya was on a wedding dress. Then Roman asked a photo of his beloved in a white dress.

At first, the girl was afraid to send a photo, because there is a prejudice that the bridegroom should not see the bride's outfit before the wedding.

But the guy wrote: ”May not be able to see you in the dress, I will be on positions for a long time« . AND Tanya sent.

The lovers were supposed to get in October, but last communicated on June 7, three days before the planned rotation. The next day, Dad Roman reported that the guy was missing. Tanya did not find out about it immediately: the girl's mother told her only two days.

« All the days after our last conversation, I was very anxious, restless, as if it were not good because I couldn't call him.

I did not immediately believe that I was told. She could not understand how a person could just disappear. The month after that I do not remember clearly my life, everything was in the fog, «  Tanya recalls.

Native Romana began their own « investigation »: they called the morgue and hospital, looking for relatives of his brothers, who also disappeared. Tanya began to pray a lot – only in the church she felt peace.

« At the end of June, I went to the monastery, at this time friends sent me a video that the Russians spread. They claimed that Roman had seen in this video. It was impossible for me, because before that I personally viewed it several times, but turned out about three seconds before the end of the video, which was laid out. It was my novel … Then I realized that he was probably in captivity.

I have relatives who said I was still young, it's worth finding another boy … I was outraged. I believe that Roman is alive and continue to look for it« , » The girl tells.

“We are important media to be heard and seen”

In order to survive separation from her lover, Tanya organized the Running Running Instead of Silence twice in Lviv in support of missing missing soldiers. The girl was inspired by the Azov families who held a similar event in Kiev.

The first race in 2023 was organized spontaneously – from the idea to the realization only a month. Tanya organized such an event for the first time, spending a lot of money.

« My initiative was supported by other women whose relatives also disappeared from the brigade. Without their support, nothing would work out. I was constantly on the nerves during the preparation, I was very thin, » Tanya recalls.

But all the difficulties were not in vain: the run was successful, and a lot of people were heard about 30 separate mechanized brigade.

Together with other women who are waiting for the missing missing fighters of the 30th brigade, Tanya became one of the heroines exhibitions Natalia's photographers « Infinite Hope ». These works have even visited the United States.

The organizers did not think that the photo exhibition would be seen outside Ukraine, and in Lviv an exhibition was visited by a foreign photographer who suggested showing the pictures of women in Riga and Chicago.

« We did not hesitate whether it is worth showing the photos abroad. We are important to be a medium to be heard and seen », «  – adds the girl.

In order to remind the missing persons of the 30th brigade, Tanya also attends peaceful actions.

« Peaceful actions are incredibly important. There are many foreign photographers who come to events and cover it in foreign media. Also, people with posters are an additional impetus for the work of our structures.

Even if you do not have a military in the family, you should attend such events. They take a little time but help to support people who are waiting for their loved ones, ” – says the girl.

In difficult moments Tanya helps to work with children in a modern dance team, because children are carefree and cheerful …

The girl constantly remembers the past life with her lover and likes to view old photos, especially from a trip to Bulgaria in 2019.

« I work with children, teach them to dance. For the last three years we went to rest on the Black Sea. I come to the places where we were very happy together. The hotel we lived, I didn't even change. Bulgaria always suggests me about novel, » – recalls the girl with a smile on her face.

In anticipation of her beloved Tanya, she fulfilled a long -standing dream – she visited the Czech Republic, Germany and France, where she wanted to go for a long time, and also learned to play drums.

« Maybe they helped me relax emotionally, get distracted from bad thoughts », – says the girl.

Subsequently, Tanya began to be interested in video. At first it was a simple hobby, and now – a source of additional earnings. The girl also reads many books that take a lot of free time.

The expectation of a loved one has become part of the tannin rhythm of life: the girl goes into a common group with women who also expect their loved ones, and every day dreams of one thing – to hear good news about Roman.

« I live and expect to finally come this moment when I hear his voice, » – Tanya added.

Anastasia Bodnarspecifically for the « UP. Life »