On the front lines, a Ukrainian sniper known as the “Joan of Arc” of her country was photographed marrying her soldier spouse while brandishing a deadly machine gun.
A commander in the Ukrainian military oversaw Evgenia Emerald’s wartime wedding on Friday in the troubled city of Kharkiv.
The 31-year-old renowned sniper announced to her 50k Instagram followers that she had a “beautiful wedding” and that “a new patriotic family was created.”
Miss Emerald was spotted posing with a combat weapon beside her spouse Evheniy Stypaniuk, who was dressed in camouflage.
The big day for the pair fell on Defender’s Day, a day set aside to honour Ukrainian military heroes. Evgenia also disclosed that the wedding occurred on her new husband’s birthday.
The Kharkiv region, which has experienced intense shelling since the Russian offensive started in February, is where the pair exchanged vows.
The military couple first connected just after Putin began his full-scale assault, and Emerald announced their engagement in August, just a few months later.
She wrote in her wedding Instagram post: “Today I became officially the wife of the military.
“It happened on the frontline… I couldn’t imagine a more perfect wedding!
“We understand that every day could be the last one and we don’t want to postpone life for later.
“It’s a special day – too many holidays. I want to congratulate all defenders. Glory to heroes!
“I also celebrate my lover because today is his birthday. Now he will definitely never forget his wedding anniversary.”
She apparently used to work in the jewellery industry but joined the special forces unit “Safari” once the war began.
Her wedding took place shortly after Putin started a new assault on Ukraine using kamikaze drones, rendering much of the nation without electricity.