Former Nexta editor Yan Rudik got married in Kyiv and told how the threat of "Oreshnik" prompted him to propose.

Павялічыць

«It turned out to be a plot from a Soviet film, but there's a nuance»

— We met last year in Kyiv. My wife's name is Elvira, she is from Azerbaijan. At that time, she was a student at Taras Shevchenko University, studying German, Spanish, and English at the Department of Philology. She started studying before the full-scale war and decided to stay in Ukraine.

Elvira was born in Azerbaijan, but she is half Tatar and half Ukrainian by blood. Her family knows well what Russian chauvinism is: her maternal ancestors fled to Azerbaijan because of the Holodomor.

Therefore, ideologically speaking, we have very similar views on geopolitics. Although politics doesn't play a big role in our relationship.

I had just returned from the war: for six months I was in a group of drone operators performing tasks near the border in the Kharkiv region, after which I was transferred to back-office work.

We joked that we had a plot from a Soviet film: a Belarusian soldier, a student from Azerbaijan, Kyiv, war. But, of course, there's a nuance.

Love under Putin's threats

— At first, we just walked around Reitarska a few times — it's a hipster bar street in Kyiv. Elvira charmed me with her style and light oriental vibe.

Everything changed when Putin first announced "Oreshnik" and started scaring the world with it. Rumors spread that he would strike Kyiv, and there was a kind of apocalyptic mood in the city. On this wave, I decided: it would be ridiculous to drag it out. And I wrote to Elvira that I liked her. That's how it all started.

Павялічыць

Now we have decided to formalize our relationship and start a family. By the way, in addition to philology, Elvira has a musical education (piano and violin), she performs classics beautifully and loves German literature. In short, we have something to talk about and do together.

EcoFlow and Shaheds

— We live in Kyiv and plan to stay here for now. I continue to work in the military sphere. I wouldn't say it's easy here now, but it's not as bad as they sometimes write.

There are many products in the stores — the assortment is even larger than in Poland. Cafes, bars, and concerts are working. Prices have risen, but they are still significantly lower than in the European Union.

Павялічыць

Of course, major attacks occur once every week or two. This creates stress: "Shaheds" hum distinctly, air defense works loudly, explosions... It's hard to fall asleep to this accompaniment, and then you walk around broken all day.

But we are prepared: the apartment has an EcoFlow charging station that powers the router and flashlights. The building itself has powerful generators, so even the elevator works during blackouts.

We are quite comfortable here. And most importantly: this is now the center of the world, where the future of the region is being decided. My life here gives a unique experience that will definitely come in handy in the future.

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