Featuring my grandfather's parents (first on the left and on the right), all dressed up in national Ukrainian clothing despite it being practically forbidden back then in USSR. Ukrainian villages were harder fo control and thus more traditional. My great grandparents spoke only Ukrainian which was a rarity as well as it wasn't encouraged.
I find their stories fascinating. I'll share them for those interested. TW: death, war.
My grandmother's (second from the left) history is tragic. Her father was absent on the wedding because he died mere months from the end of WWII in his first battle after he failed to say goodbye to her. She was but a seven year old child, and hid, thinking he'd never leave without saying goodbye to his only daughter he loved so much. He was forced to leave anyway. She regretted it until the end of her life.
My great-grandfather, first on the left, was nothing short of an amazing person full of secrets. His youngest daughter who, unfortunately, lived to witness the full scale invasion in 2022, said he was a sniper. He fought and survived both World Wars.
He also saved my great-grandmother (first on the right) by marrying her and adopting her siblings after the government took everything from her parents and executed them (her and her siblings would've been next).
Together they survived the great famine Holodomor, lost two children to it (one of them did not survive her first night because my pregnant great-grandmother had malaria and was forced to work in a kolhose).
My grandfather, second on the right, died of a brain hemorrhage in his 40s after a divorce with my grandmother.
My father is the only survivor of this family carrying their surname and I'm very proud of carrying it on alongside my brothers.
by exterminatorax