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“Maksym risks his life every day, but we don’t want to put off our lives until tomorrow”: in the middle of war, this couple of young Ukrainians decided to have a baby
“Maksym risks his life every day, but we don’t want to put our lives off until tomorrow”: in the middle of war, this couple of young Ukrainians decided to have a baby – (SPECIAL SENDING / FRANCE 2)
In a Ukraine that has suffered war for two years, Svitlana, nine months pregnant, tries to resist the anguish. Concern for her unborn son, fear for her husband on the front line… During Maksym’s leave, “Special Envoy” met the young couple in Lviv.
“I don’t think there’s a single person in Ukraine who isn’t distressed right now, testifies Svitlana, eight months pregnant. We are all…traumatized from living for two years with fear and under constant threat.” Maksym has “already came close to death on numerous occasions”, and he knows that “These dangerous situations will happen again.” “So now, he asserts, I enjoy every moment with my family. But I have to keep fighting, because the fight continues.” It was in Lviv, in western Ukraine, that “Special Envoy” met this young couple. Svitlana and Maksym were together for forty-eight hours, the time of a leave, before the young man had to return to the front.
On the front, that’s where their story began, one year ago. A volunteer for the army, Svitlana went as close as possible to the fighting to deliver equipment. Before the conflict, Maksym was a mountain guide, and the young woman worked in finance. They married just three months after meeting.
“The station is the worst and best place in the world”
Today, there is no question that this war which precipitated everything between them will prevent them from becoming parents. “On wants to live now, explains Svitlana, nine months pregnant. We don’t want to put off our lives until tomorrow.”
At the end of these two brief days of interlude, you have to take the path to the station. On the platform, Svitlana, who is having contractions, writhes in pain. At the moment of separation, as Maksym gets on the train, she cannot hold back her tears. “The station is the worst and best place in the world for me, she confides. The best, because this is where I hope to see my husband again. And the worst part, because that’s where I have to say goodbye to him.”
Excerpt from “I married war”, a report to see in “Special Envoy” on February 15, 2024.
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