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For a Weekend, Ukraine Rebels Make Love, Not War For a Weekend, Ukraine Rebels Make Love, Not War
(about 2 months later)
DONETSK, Ukraine — It was a weekend of love in this city of war. DONETSK, Ukraine — It was a weekend of love in this city of war.
First came the wedding.First came the wedding.
A rebel leader wearing fatigues and a cast on his broken right arm marched into the city’s main wedding registry office on Friday with his betrothed for a marriage ceremony that was attended by several dozen armed militiamen.A rebel leader wearing fatigues and a cast on his broken right arm marched into the city’s main wedding registry office on Friday with his betrothed for a marriage ceremony that was attended by several dozen armed militiamen.
The wedding, much of which was broadcast live on Russian television, was billed as the first ever registered in the self-declared Donetsk People’s Republic.The wedding, much of which was broadcast live on Russian television, was billed as the first ever registered in the self-declared Donetsk People’s Republic.
But a worker in the office who was too afraid to give her name said that the staff had performed the ceremony under duress and without documents, and that the happy couple, identified as Arsen Pavlov and Elena Kolenkina by The Associated Press, was in fact not legally married under Ukrainian law.But a worker in the office who was too afraid to give her name said that the staff had performed the ceremony under duress and without documents, and that the happy couple, identified as Arsen Pavlov and Elena Kolenkina by The Associated Press, was in fact not legally married under Ukrainian law.
But that did not seem to detract from the occasion. The bride wore a long white strapless dress, a veil, a gun and holster over her shoulder. Her long black hair was braided with a St. George’s ribbon, a symbol adopted by pro-Russian separatists, who have largely retreated to Donetsk and Luhansk for a last stand against the Ukrainian government forces.But that did not seem to detract from the occasion. The bride wore a long white strapless dress, a veil, a gun and holster over her shoulder. Her long black hair was braided with a St. George’s ribbon, a symbol adopted by pro-Russian separatists, who have largely retreated to Donetsk and Luhansk for a last stand against the Ukrainian government forces.
Mr. Pavlov, a stocky young man with a scruffy red beard who also goes by the name Motorola, held his bride’s hand with his good arm, slipped a ring on her finger and kissed her as organ music played. The supreme rebel commander, Igor Strelkov, was among the guests.Mr. Pavlov, a stocky young man with a scruffy red beard who also goes by the name Motorola, held his bride’s hand with his good arm, slipped a ring on her finger and kissed her as organ music played. The supreme rebel commander, Igor Strelkov, was among the guests.
Then, on Saturday, it was singles night.Then, on Saturday, it was singles night.
Local television advertisements had invited women from Donetsk and nearby towns to show up at Lenin Square at 8 p.m. to meet bachelor rebels.Local television advertisements had invited women from Donetsk and nearby towns to show up at Lenin Square at 8 p.m. to meet bachelor rebels.
A rebel leader’s Facebook posting said the goal was to “acquaint our unmarried guys with the best, truest and most beautiful women on earth.”A rebel leader’s Facebook posting said the goal was to “acquaint our unmarried guys with the best, truest and most beautiful women on earth.”
Shortly before 9 p.m., women began trickling into the square. A loudspeaker was playing music, and the water in the fountain had been turned on for the occasion. Some were young and single, but most were middle-aged and ideological.Shortly before 9 p.m., women began trickling into the square. A loudspeaker was playing music, and the water in the fountain had been turned on for the occasion. Some were young and single, but most were middle-aged and ideological.
Many were holding daisies, though one shy young woman in a black miniskirt and a green sleeveless top acknowledged that they had been given out by the organizers.Many were holding daisies, though one shy young woman in a black miniskirt and a green sleeveless top acknowledged that they had been given out by the organizers.
“I decided to have some fun,” said another woman, Alina Chernoglazova, a 24-year-old electric station worker who was wearing a tight, gauzy dress the color of a yellow highlighter. “It’s war. Who knows what will happen tomorrow.”“I decided to have some fun,” said another woman, Alina Chernoglazova, a 24-year-old electric station worker who was wearing a tight, gauzy dress the color of a yellow highlighter. “It’s war. Who knows what will happen tomorrow.”
She said her sweetheart, a 37-year-old driving instructor named Oleg, was a fighter. They met in the swirl of emotion outside the government building when rebels were taking it over this spring. She said she felt culturally Russian and was horrified by the revolution in Kiev, Ukraine’s capital, earlier this year.She said her sweetheart, a 37-year-old driving instructor named Oleg, was a fighter. They met in the swirl of emotion outside the government building when rebels were taking it over this spring. She said she felt culturally Russian and was horrified by the revolution in Kiev, Ukraine’s capital, earlier this year.
“Our civil war started there,” she said. Her boyfriend was handsome, she said, and she missed him. “I want this all to be over,” she said, taking a drag on a cigarette.“Our civil war started there,” she said. Her boyfriend was handsome, she said, and she missed him. “I want this all to be over,” she said, taking a drag on a cigarette.
With a full moon rising and music blaring, a heavyset master of ceremonies broke the news to the crowd that most of the fighters had gotten stuck in a battle in the town of Karlovka and would not be coming.With a full moon rising and music blaring, a heavyset master of ceremonies broke the news to the crowd that most of the fighters had gotten stuck in a battle in the town of Karlovka and would not be coming.
“Awwww, too bad!” shouted Ms. Chernoglazova, tossing her blond hair, which she had curled especially for the occasion.“Awwww, too bad!” shouted Ms. Chernoglazova, tossing her blond hair, which she had curled especially for the occasion.
But several minutes later, two fighters emerged next to the M.C., looking uncomfortable, but delighting the largely female crowd.But several minutes later, two fighters emerged next to the M.C., looking uncomfortable, but delighting the largely female crowd.
“Mo-lod-tsi!” the women shouted, using the Russian word for “good guys.”“Mo-lod-tsi!” the women shouted, using the Russian word for “good guys.”
Ms. Chernoglazova smiled, and pushed her way forward in the crowd to get a photograph next to them. “They gave us two so we wouldn’t be too disappointed,” she said.Ms. Chernoglazova smiled, and pushed her way forward in the crowd to get a photograph next to them. “They gave us two so we wouldn’t be too disappointed,” she said.
In a grand finale, the M.C. produced six more fighters, including one who looked like a movie star and went by the nickname Diplomat. The crowd went wild.In a grand finale, the M.C. produced six more fighters, including one who looked like a movie star and went by the nickname Diplomat. The crowd went wild.
“Our heroes,” shouted a stout older woman in a baggy blouse with a snakeskin pattern, who rushed toward Diplomat and embraced him tightly for more than a minute, as he smiled awkwardly near the microphone.“Our heroes,” shouted a stout older woman in a baggy blouse with a snakeskin pattern, who rushed toward Diplomat and embraced him tightly for more than a minute, as he smiled awkwardly near the microphone.
Not everyone in Donetsk was amused. Some pointed out that the event was stage-managed: The crowd included many of the older women who have been demonstrating their staunch support for the pro-Russian separatists by standing outside the regional administration building for months. As for Motorola’s wedding, some Facebook users found an interview he gave to the Russian newspaper Zavtra last month in which he said he was looking forward to getting back to his wife and 5-year-old son.Not everyone in Donetsk was amused. Some pointed out that the event was stage-managed: The crowd included many of the older women who have been demonstrating their staunch support for the pro-Russian separatists by standing outside the regional administration building for months. As for Motorola’s wedding, some Facebook users found an interview he gave to the Russian newspaper Zavtra last month in which he said he was looking forward to getting back to his wife and 5-year-old son.
But at least some of the emotion was genuine. On Saturday afternoon, another rebel couple had become the day’s 12th set of newlyweds, but they were the first to turn up with an armed escort, the marriage officiant said.But at least some of the emotion was genuine. On Saturday afternoon, another rebel couple had become the day’s 12th set of newlyweds, but they were the first to turn up with an armed escort, the marriage officiant said.
“Of course it’s not usual,” said the officiant, who declined to give her name. “But nonetheless, it’s people who’ve fallen in love.”“Of course it’s not usual,” said the officiant, who declined to give her name. “But nonetheless, it’s people who’ve fallen in love.”
The rebel fighter, who goes by the nickname Tagir, wore camouflage and his pistol still holstered at his side as he kissed his bride, Tatiana, who had been his girlfriend for over a year.The rebel fighter, who goes by the nickname Tagir, wore camouflage and his pistol still holstered at his side as he kissed his bride, Tatiana, who had been his girlfriend for over a year.
Tatiana wore a white wedding gown, though the groom had suggested that she, too, come in uniform, “just with a veil,” she said, smiling.Tatiana wore a white wedding gown, though the groom had suggested that she, too, come in uniform, “just with a veil,” she said, smiling.
Tatiana now works in the kitchen at her new husband’s base, having abandoned her hometown north of Donetsk, which Ukrainian forces currently control. Tagir said that they had no plans for a honeymoon.Tatiana now works in the kitchen at her new husband’s base, having abandoned her hometown north of Donetsk, which Ukrainian forces currently control. Tagir said that they had no plans for a honeymoon.
“Saddle up!” the unit’s commander yelled as the ceremony concluded. “Work awaits.”“Saddle up!” the unit’s commander yelled as the ceremony concluded. “Work awaits.”