At first glance, this pair of beautiful, young people in the picture is no different from other Ukrainian newlyweds. As happy and in love as it should be on this solemn day. However, this is only at first glance, in fact, there were so many trials that fell to their lot, which would not be enough for one lifetime. From the first days of the large-scale invasion, 27-year-old Ivan Soroka, a member of the 72nd mechanized brigade named after the Black Zaporozhets, defended Kyiv, going through the hell of battles for the village of Moschun. It was there in close combat that Ivan saved the lives of four of his comrades by opening fire to overtake them.

But even in the midst of ruin, pain and suffering, love finds people and fills their hearts. This is what happened to our hero.

During the defense of the Kyiv region, in the spring of 2022, he met Vlada and their love blossomed rapidly against the background of the war. Before the summer rotation in Donetsk region, he proposed to Vlada and she agreed to become his wife

Then there was Bakhmut and a serious injury in August last year. “I immediately lost my sight, I was thrown back by the blast wave. I felt that I was dying, – recalls Ivan Soroka. – I lay there for about two minutes. Then I realized that no, no one is letting me there.” He is convinced that it was his beloved Vlada who helped him survive then. She is always near. This charming couple has already attended our rehabilitation camp “Life after the war” twice. Ivan, who has lost his sight, has an insane motivation to return to an active, fulfilling life as much as possible and to help others in this. And on September 9, the newlyweds got married, inspiring the whole country with their love story.