In brief
Iryna Stetsenko and Serhiy Lobanov tied the knot on April 26, 1986, unaware that the Chernobyl nuclear disaster was unfolding just miles away. Their wedding day, marked by celebration, soon turned into a moment of anxiety as the reality of the tragedy became apparent. Now, decades later, they reflect on their journey from the aftermath of the disaster to the present, embodying resilience and enduring partnership over the years.
On April 26, 1986, just after midnight, Iryna Stetsenko was anxiously preparing for her wedding, while her fiancé, Serhiy Lobanov, was resting amidst the commotion of family and friends. A mysterious rumble interrupted the night, mimicking the sounds of planes overhead, but the couple had no inkling that the world's worst nuclear accident was occurring nearby at the Chernobyl power plant.As dawn broke gloriously on their wedding day, Serhiy went about his errands, oblivious to the chaos that would soon envelop their lives. The couple exchanged vows at the Palace of Culture, a venue that celebrated love and life, yet the atmosphere was heavy with unspoken anxiety as news of the disaster trickled in.In the days following their wedding, Iryna and Serhiy were thrust into chaos. Evacuations were ordered, and the couple faced the dark reality of radiation and uncertainty. The years that followed saw them building a family and uprooting their lives under the specter of the disaster.Now living in Berlin after fleeing the war in Ukraine, Iryna and Serhiy reflect on four decades of marriage strengthened by shared struggles. They remember the joy of their wedding day tinged with sorrow, reinforcing the notion that their bond was forged in the crucible of calamity.Through trials and tribulations, they have learned the undeniable truth of their companionship: they are, as Iryna puts it, 'like a thread with a needle,' inseparable and intertwined in life’s narrative.
