In brief
Iryna Stetsenko and Serhiy Lobanov tied the knot on April 26, 1986, amidst the escalating chaos of the Chernobyl disaster. Just hours after their wedding, they were forced to evacuate due to the catastrophic explosion of reactor four. Now, 40 years later, they reflect on their love story that began against the backdrop of devastation and their ongoing journey through life, including the challenges posed by the disaster and recent conflicts in Ukraine.
It was just after midnight. Iryna Stetsenko had finished doing her nails for her wedding, opened the balcony door and was battling her nerves to get to sleep. In a nearby apartment packed with guests, her fiancé Serhiy Lobanov was asleep on a mattress in the kitchen. A sudden 'rumble' disturbed the quiet, prompting concern, but neither realized that the world's worst nuclear accident was unfolding less than 2.5 miles away at Chernobyl.On the dawn of April 26, 1986, Serhiy awoke to find it a gloriously sunny morning, full of excitement for the day ahead. He had errands to run, from picking up flowers to making his way to the Palace of Culture for their wedding ceremony. Meanwhile, rumors of an incident at the power plant were circulating, but details remained scarce. As their nuptials commenced, an air of unease loomed, overshadowing the joyous occasion.Within a few days, their lives took a drastic turn. Following the explosion of reactor four, they were evacuated, leaving behind their hometown of Pripyat. Decades later, they settled in Berlin, but the echoes of their wedding day resonate through their shared experiences and the challenges posed by the Chernobyl disaster and current conflicts in Ukraine. The couple continues to support each other, embodying resilience and love through adversity, reflecting on how deeply intertwined their lives have become over the years.
