Waiting for the next call from her husband has become Maria’s most pressing concern. There is no way to be sure that each conversation won’t be their last.
Ivan, a 31-year-old Ukrainian pilot, has been defending his country since the war began. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, he has completed over 200 perilous missions flying a Soviet-era MiG-29 fighter jet. Over the three years of war, this squadron commander has lost many comrades, including close friends. Now stationed at an airbase in western Ukraine—its exact location undisclosed for security reasons—he continues his fight.
Meanwhile, the United States has been leading new ceasefire negotiations, changing the course of the conflict. On Monday, Russia and Ukraine were set to restart diplomatic discussions with American mediation.
“If there is a ceasefire, we will feel safer,” Maria says.
War fatigue has gripped Ukraine. A growing number of citizens are openly expressing exhaustion and urging an end to what is now Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II. They demand stronger security guarantees from the West to prevent further Russian aggression.
However, Maria fears the possibility of losing Ukrainian territory under a peace agreement. Since the invasion, Russia has partially occupied four southeastern regions of Ukraine and has held Crimea since 2014. The 29-year-old wonders, “No one will reclaim our lost land for us. It will remain under Russian occupation.”
“If Ukraine cannot fight for them and is forced to make concessions, why have so many of our people, so many of our heroes, sacrificed their lives?”
When Maria and Ivan first met, a full-scale war in Ukraine seemed unthinkable.
Maria was an English teacher at a local children’s club in western Ukraine. One of her students was the daughter of one of Ivan’s fellow pilots, who introduced her to Ivan, calling her a “wonderful teacher.”
Ivan hesitated at first, unsure about meeting someone in such a way. But he ultimately agreed, and he was glad he did. The two quickly grew close.
Early in their relationship, Ivan warned Maria about the risks of his profession. But to Maria, it was not a concern. Ivan’s bravery, kindness, and protective nature gradually won her over.
Then, duty called. Ivan had to leave for an extended period. For a year, they had no contact, and their relationship seemed to have ended.
But one day, Ivan returned with a large bouquet of flowers, determined not to waste any more time. Within a year, they married and soon began hoping for their first child.
When Russia launched its full-scale invasion, Maria finally understood the brutal reality of Ivan’s warnings.
When the war broke out, their daughter Yaroslava was just three months old. Ivan missed many of her milestones—her first steps, her first tooth, and her first illness.
“When Ivan is stationed far away, I send him thousands of pictures of our daughter,” Maria says. “At least this way, he can feel like he’s with us, even if only virtually.”
Once, Ivan was deployed closer to home. Maria rushed to a checkpoint with Yaroslava in a baby stroller. They had only five minutes together.
She had brought homemade food for him. Every moment spent together felt like a reprieve from months of separation.
Before she could speak, Yaroslava learned to point to the sky, recognizing that her father was a pilot.
“She knows her father flies airplanes,” Maria says. On Yaroslava’s birthday, Ivan joins via video call, eating cake on his end while Maria tells their daughter, “Your father is protecting Ukraine from the Russians.”
The family takes professional photographs together every six months.
“It’s hard for me to say this, but I must be honest,” Maria admits, her eyes welling with tears. “We never know if any phone call or meeting will be our last.”
Maria has prepared herself for every possibility, including the worst.
During the war’s first year, she constantly received news of casualties among friends. “You don’t have the words to call their wives. One day, it could be you in their place.”
Ukrainians are demanding concrete security assurances from the U.S. and Europe. Many want more Western fighter jets to counter Russian air superiority.
Ukraine has received several U.S.-made F-16s and French Mirage jets, but its air force remains largely dependent on aging Soviet aircraft. Against Russia’s advanced warplanes, Ukrainian pilots are at a disadvantage.
Despite the circumstances, Maria cautiously hopes for a ceasefire. She believes the ongoing negotiations could lead to a long-term freeze in fighting. But trusting in that outcome is difficult.