A Ukrainian woman wed her Oak Park, Illinois fiancé before returning to Ukraine to fight in the war against Russia as Vladimir Putin advances attacks.
CHICAGO -- When Russia invaded her home country of Ukraine, Maria decided she had to get there and help defend it - even if it meant leaving her fiancé behind in Chicago days after getting married.
Maria, who asked that her last name not be published because she fears for her family's safety in Ukraine and the U.S., said she lived with her parents in Kyiv until 1991 when the family moved to Poland. "I have to go," Maria, 44, said."I can't do protests or fundraising or wave flags. We've done this since 2015, Ukrainians, and I just can't do it anymore."
Associated Press reporters at the border checkpoint in Medyka in southeastern Poland found Ukrainians lining up to return from other countries in Europe in recent days in response to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's call for volunteers to come assist the country's military. After deciding they would try to reach Ukraine, they accepted the offer to hold a backyard celebration. They also asked people to purchase items needed by Ukrainian troops through an Amazon list that includes rain ponchos, medical supplies and boots rather than wedding gifts.
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