Marichka Padalko, Valentyna Hamayko, and Solomiya Vitvitska on Valentine’s Day.

1+1 hosts Marichka Padalko, Oleksiy Sukhanov, Valentyna Khamaiko, Nelya Shovkoplias, Svyatoslav Hrynchuk, Natalia Ostrovska, Solomiya Vitvitska  told how they will celebrate Valentine’s Day this year, when Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine has been going on for almost a year. Even in the darkest of times, psychologists advise us to look for the light, appreciate every moment, support each other, and not put life on hold.  

Nelya Shovkoplyas

Nelya Shovkoplyas

Most likely, this year on Valentine’s Day we will hold a family home evening. My sons Matviy and Tymofiy are preparing for this holiday more – they have already asked me to buy some “valentines” to congratulate the girls at school. Because last year my boys came to their senses late and brought gifts to several girls and a teacher on February 15.

It seems to me that for most Ukrainians now all days have merged into one continuous long day, and you live here and now. And you can’t plan anything. We need to live in the present and not put life off until later, until after the war. So even if you’re not in the mood, but your family is around, you can hug them, kiss them, tell them you love them. If they are far away, call them. But even if you have no one close to you, you can always find someone to whom you can just say something nice. And not just on February 14, but in principle, always, every day. I want people to be closer to each other, to communicate. So I just wish you to live with an open heart.

Marichka Padalko

This is the first Valentine’s Day that is more interesting for my children, all three of them. Although Misha is the eldest son, the boys start to take an interest in this later. Therefore, all three of them are on the same level in their emotional development. The children discuss this day a lot – what to do, how to do it, do they need to write any “valentines” to someone? This is the year when children will be more excited about the holiday than parents. Because my husband will not be there for me. Although it may be a surprise and Yegor will surprise me. He is always suddenly allowed to come home.

My kids talk to me about Valentine’s Day. One of my children wants to write a valentine, and we have been discussing the text for several weeks now-how to write it in such a way as to say something and not to say it. So, yes, I am involved in this process.

I used to run around with this day, and Yegor always proposed the idea that Valentine’s Day should be every day. And he backed it up not only with words but also with deeds. His concept was to communicate and treat each other as if you were living together for the first week. Because when I started dating my husband, he was pleasantly shocked by me and calls our first week together a promotional week. Because I was constantly inventing something: cooking interesting dishes, making some surprises. But I often try to return to this “advertising week”. Although I think Yegor is an even better man now than he was during that advertising week.

Alexey Sukhanov

I thought for a long time: where to start? Because, like many people, there is an emptiness in their souls because of the war and the deaths it brings every minute. Should I start with love? I can imagine a person whose life was taken away from him by the war… It’s like digging into a wound, because pain turns off everything and the phrase “time heals” sounds not even vulgar, but dismissive! I’d rather write about the moment that is now! Look around, remember, think: what warms you personally? Life is a dandelion! This war proves it every day! So today I wish everyone to appreciate the moment, because in every moment there is power, and the power of love, in particular!

Natalia Ostrovska

For me personally, February 14 has never been a global holiday, but rather an occasion to give time and attention to each other. My husband knows that I love traveling, and in the past years he tried to give me tickets abroad. There was a time when we could travel to European countries for the weekend, a wonderful period. And for me, the trip was the best gift. We spent last February 14 in a cozy restaurant. This year, in the context of the great war, when many families were separated by the war, when men are at the front and women went abroad with their children, families were forced to separate, there is no special mood to celebrate. That’s why we’re not planning anything for February 14. I know that some women deliberately ask me not to give them flowers, but to donate to the Armed Forces, and I support their initiative. But she personally prepared a surprise for her husband. I just think that there are not so many reasons to make each other happy now. I’ll give you a hoodie, and that’s it. An unromantic mood in 2023. We are all waiting for a victory.

Valentina Khamayko

My husband and I are very calm about this holiday. Valentine’s Day should be celebrated by families who love each other, not just one day a year. We like spontaneous dates, we like to be with our husband together. But we don’t have a situation where he brings me flowers on February 14. Andriy gives flowers throughout the year for no reason, and I am grateful to him for that. I don’t expect a gift on this day. I treat this holiday quite symbolically – it’s nice and beautiful. This year, I will be more involved in preparing all kinds of moments for children, because they are the ones who write Valentine’s cards and prepare some gifts. That’s why I’m more concerned about them.

Svyatoslav Grynchuk

To be honest, we didn’t celebrate Valentine’s Day with my wife, and when we were together. And now that my family is abroad, it will probably be even more quiet. Can we throw each other some joke hearts or something, ask “when will my gift be,” “where is the star named after me,” or something like that. This is not because we are somehow fundamentally against this holiday, but we have many “our” holidays with a history, anniversaries of some significant events in our relationship, so we never needed another, such a universal “love day”. In addition, in our student days, this holiday was not taken too seriously, more of a joke, so we are probably the generation lost to Valentine(smiles). But of course we will have online dates, we have them every night now, because we try to support and comfort each other in this way. 

 I fully understand those who are used to celebrating Valentine’s Day. Our daughter, for example, loves Halloween, costumes, all the dressing up, scaring and so on. But every year, I read a lot of discussions about how this is not our holiday, not inherent, not historical, and so on. And I don’t want to be the same bore. If some people like this tradition, it brings positive emotions and good feelings, and it does not harm others, then why not? It’s the same with Valentin – these are difficult times and people need to get some joyful experiences from time to time, to comfort each other, to help them hold on. If the occasion is Valentine’s Day, then go ahead, if there is at least one more evening of light and goodness in your life, you should not hold back.

Solomia Vitvitska

Love will save the world! This year, I will spend Valentine’s Day at the Okhmatdyt Children’s Hospital, celebrating love and 129 years of the medical institution that saves children! Traditionally, Ukrainian artists will perform, and, of course, there will be valentines. As for the plans after the concert, let’s keep them a secret.

I believe that despite everything that happens around you, if you find love, you have to protect it. And to everyone who is alone today, I wish you to find your soul mate. War makes adjustments. This is definitely a challenge for many couples, because families are separated. I wish everyone endurance and that love always wins!

Photo: 1+1 press service