Maria and David, her fiance, were married in Oak Park’s backyard on Saturday. The venue was offered by Maria after she asked for help in a Facebook group. They met in October last year, and they were engaged in October.
She plans to fly to Poland on Monday and then travel to Ukraine to cross the border. She hopes to eventually volunteer to fight for her homeland.
Pamela Chinchilla, a friend from the wedding, said that people are running out of places and she is running in.
Maria received supplies and masks from seven guests who attended the wedding. Maria spoke briefly with Odesa family members, while Maria hugged them.
Maria asked for her last name to be kept private because she is concerned about her family’s safety in Ukraine.
Maria’s previous marriage ended in divorce. While studying music in Austria, she met her ex-husband and they moved to Chicago 20 years ago — the U.S.’s second-largest Ukrainian-born city.
She has been using Facebook and messages to stay in touch with her parents since the beginning of war. They have been hiding in a garage in Odesa, Ukraine’s largest port, while they are under attack. She said that she was unable to contact her cousins in Kyiv these days.
Maria decided to return to Ukraine three days after the invasion began. She was determined to make a difference and find a way to help others. Although she claimed that she does not have military or medical training, she worries about Russia’s takeover of Ukraine.
Maria, 44, stated that “I must go.” I can’t protest, raise funds or wave flags. This has been going on since 2015, Ukrainians. I can’t anymore.”
Maria was resistant to her request that her fiance accompany her, but he refused to leave. She plans to travel to Poland on Monday to wait for David to get his passport.
Maria stated, “He knew how stubborn I was and knew he wouldn’t be able to convince me otherwise.”
David, 42 years old, stated that he feels a duty to protect her.
He said, “Because compliance and complacency are pretty much one thing.” “And you cannot turn your back on people being bullied for too long. It could happen to you, too.
To avoid putting Maria in danger, he also requested that his last name be kept private.
Although the Ukrainian forces are outnumbered, outgunned and well outnumbered, their resistance prevented a quick victory by Russia. As Russian forces advanced on the coast, and took control of one major port city, Ukrainian leaders appealed to citizens to join the guerrilla warfare.
Associated Press journalists at the border checkpoint Medyka, southeastern Poland discovered Ukrainians lining-up to return from other countries Europe in the recent days to help the country’s military.
Although the White House advised Americans not to travel into Ukraine, Maria and David maintained that they didn’t change any of their plans.
They had originally planned to wed at a courthouse on the 5th of March, a nod towards Maria’s grandmother’s birthday.
They decided to try to reach Ukraine and accepted an invitation to host a backyard party. They asked for people to donate items to the Ukrainian troops via an Amazon wish list. This includes rain ponchos and medical supplies, as well as boots. These are not wedding gifts.
Maria stated that she isn’t sure what she will do once she reaches the Polish-Ukraine border. Friends who live close to border crossings told Maria it takes days to cross. She said that her parents also doubted her decision to volunteer because they don’t want to worry about her safety.
Maria stated Wednesday that “if the army doesn’t take us”, she would be as close as they can get. Volunteers are always needed. I’m strong and don’t fear blood. I can handle pressure.
Natalia Blauvelt is an immigration lawyer in Chicago who has helped dozens of families leave Ukraine or Russia in recent weeks. She said that she has not heard of anyone else trying to enter Ukraine to take part in the country’s defense.
She advised anyone who is considering it to contact the Ukrainian Embassy in the U.S. to speak with an immigration lawyer to discuss plans to return to the U.S.