An Azovstal defender proposed to his girlfriend after returning from captivity
Ukrainian soldier and defender of Azovstal Nazarii Krasovskyi, who survived a severe spinal injury and 3.5 years of Russian captivity, proposed to his beloved Ilona.
The couple had been friends for over 15 years, but after the soldier returned home, they decided to tie the knot.
The touching love story of the soldier and his fiancée was shared by representatives of the “UNBROKEN Ukraine” rehabilitation center.
Nazarii joined the ranks of the Azov Regiment in 2020 and, from the very first days of the full-scale invasion, held the line near Mariupol. Together with his comrades, he defended the city and the territory of the Azovstal steelworks until he received the order to withdraw.
The soldier spent 3.5 long years in Russian torture chambers, where he sustained a severe spinal injury as a result of brutal treatment.
While in captivity, the Ukrainian defender constantly thought of Ilona, whom he had met back in 2009 while studying at veterinary college.
He had been attracted to her from the very first meeting, but for a long time they remained simply close friends. The anticipation of seeing her again and memories of his loved one helped the soldier endure the inhuman conditions of isolation.
Nazariy’s long-awaited return from Russian captivity took place in August 2025 during another prisoner exchange. Ilona immediately came to support her husband during his initial hospitalization and the start of his treatment.
It was then, in the hospital room, that the soldier clearly realized his true feelings for her and made a crucial decision.
The soldier shared his memories of the first days after his release: “When she visited me in the hospital, I gave her my ‘Azov’ bracelet. That’s when I thought: ‘I don’t want to let her go. She’ll be a Krasovska.’”
Nazarii carefully planned the day of the proposal, which became a special occasion for the couple. On June 14, he organized a romantic horseback ride through the garden and a festive dinner.
After dinner, the soldier sang a song for his beloved and officially asked her to become his wife, to which she said yes.
The staff at the rehabilitation center congratulated the future spouses on this momentous occasion in their lives. They emphasized that sincere feelings can overcome any life challenges, despair, and separation.
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