I am the author of the Goodacity blog, a journalist, and a translator. For 16 years, I have worked in professional journalism, contributing to regional and national publications, both in print and online media. I have written reports, conducted interviews, reviews, articles on cultural, social, and charitable topics, as well as materials in the style of "solution journalism" and communication materials.
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I believe in the power of goodness and I am happy that as part of the Goodacity project, I can contribute to its expansion. I believe in the power of words and in the fact that communication can help make the world a better place. I know how, where and when to speak in order to be heard. And when you are heard, you can change the world!
A veteran, who lost his sight in war, on marriage, life after injury, food blogging, and how to see with the heart
They got married last September. The beautiful bride, smiling, walked towards him in a white dress. He couldn’t see her. But he saw her — with his heart.
This story cuts deep, pierces through, and touches the very heart.
“I now see with my feelings, my emotions,” says soldier Ivan Soroka, who lost his sight in the war.
“Even if the eyes stop seeing the world, one must fight and live!”
After his injury, he married his beloved, continues to assist his fellow soldiers, and runs his own vibrant food blog on social media. Ivan proves by example that nothing is impossible!
Love in War: The Heart Sees Best
Ivan is 28 years old. From the initial days of the full-scale invasion, he defended Ukraine as part of the 72nd Separate Brigade named after the Black Cossacks. This military unit of the Armed Forces of Ukraine actively participates in the country’s defense against the full-scale invasion. The name “Black Cossacks” refers to the historical traditions of Ukrainian Cossackdom, symbolizing bravery and heroism. “It was my duty,” he responds when thanked for his service and protection.
“On the morning of February 24th, I was at the military recruitment office, and by the 26th, we were already defending Moschun in the Kyiv region, Ukraine,” Ivan shares.
“The battle for Moschun was one of the fiercest during the defense of Kyiv. The enemy threw all possible weaponry at the small village of Moschun – a strategic point, effectively the gateway to Kyiv – artillery, mortars, aviation, they hit us with everything… It was hell, very tough battles, but through extremely hard efforts, the Ukrainian army managed to push back the Russian forces.”
“From April, we were moved under Ivankiv, Ukraine, and from June, we went East, under Bakhmut, Ukraine.
In April, I fell ill with pneumonia – and as they say, every cloud has a silver lining: while I was in the hospital, I started chatting online and met my beloved girlfriend, and now beloved wife. I immediately felt she was my soulmate, and I told Vladyslava right away, ‘I won’t let you go’. My beloved says she felt the same…”.
They met at the beginning of April, and on May 25th, Ivan proposed to Vladyslava. He specially took a day off from service – visited his parents, and arranged to meet with his beloved.
The proposal was unexpected for Vladyslava: they had been joking and laughing in their messages that they would just go ahead and get married, and then suddenly – Ivan pulls out a ring in a café and gets down on one knee… And she said “yes”! When you love – nothing is impossible…
“Our story of meeting is interesting, as is what led up to it. Before the full-scale war, when we didn’t know each other, I worked not far from my beloved’s home in the Desnianskyi district. And when I was doing my compulsory service in the National Guard, we were assigned to guard a government building – a court, where, it turns out, Vladyslava was doing her legal internship.
We lived in the same city, walked the same paths near each other – but the “catalyst” that helped us find each other was the war… We understood that fate brought us together for a reason. The only regret is that we had so little time together before my injury… But it’s true what they say, the most important things are not seen with the eyes, but the heart sees well. I made my choice with my heart – and I was not mistaken. My beloved supported me greatly after the injury, during the hardest, most difficult, most depressive period… I didn’t want someone to stay with me out of pity, but she convinced me that nothing had changed for her.”
Battling the Darkness
“I don’t want to say that the injury and loss of vision split my life into ‘before’ and ‘after.’ It was the war that divided it. But life goes on… even though many things have changed.
When I went to war, I understood the risks and mentally prepared myself; I was ready. Life in war is such that you live each day as if it were your last. Or not ‘as if’… because for someone, the day you were lucky enough to survive was their last – a comrade who was walking in front of me when we came under mortar fire took most of the shrapnel from that damned mine and died… And I received numerous injuries – my right arm was hanging by the skin, I almost lost a leg, but it was my eyes that suffered the most…”
“It happened on August 3rd, on the Bakhmut front, Ukraine. We were ordered to retreat to reserve positions because our front line, where we were stationed, had been destroyed. We began retreating at night, but dawn caught us on the way. The enemy noticed the movement and opened mortar fire. That’s when I was wounded.”
After the injury, it was hard for Ivan. But the love and support of his beloved, her presence every chance she got – whether when he was receiving treatment in Vinnytsia, Ukraine, or later, when in an attempt to save at least one eye he was transferred to the Filatov Clinic in Odesa, Ukraine – helped and inspired him greatly. Together, they coped.
“How to continue living a full life after losing sight? The main thing is to understand for yourself that life doesn’t stop after injury and that you need to find new meanings, new dreams, a new place in society. You have to continue living – and live even more brightly than before!”
“Therefore, the wedding with my beloved, which we had planned even before my injury, was decided to be celebrated as we had dreamed, albeit a year later. We planned for the fall of ’22, but celebrated in September ’23 – because there were hospitals, rehabilitation, waiting for all my wounds to heal – so that the groom could look good in the wedding photos, because the bride is always beautiful,” Ivan laughs.
“Now, we’ve been a family for six months.”
Today, Ivan manages everything at home, even with kitchen gadgets. He mastered voice programs on his phone to use it independently, without help, and is relearning how to use a computer and laptop.
“Everything can be mastered, the main thing is the desire,” the man says.
“A lot depends on the psychological state of the person, their moral qualities – until a person wants to, no training will help.
I don’t understand the phrase ‘to give up.’ Walking around with your hands permanently up is quite inconvenient,” he laughs.
“It’s a pity I can’t fight with weapons in my hands anymore… But I want to be useful in any way I can. Now, I help volunteers and comrades with fundraisers on social media. And I also donate, though when I tell my volunteer friends – let me send you some money, they immediately go – no-no-no, it’s not necessary, they won’t let me,” he laughs.
For a Dream, Nothing is Impossible!
Many people have lost their sight in the war, and society needs to learn how to properly interact with them, to communicate appropriately. Ivan’s comrade, Vladyslav Yeshchenko, who also lost his sight in the war and afterwards founded the charity foundation “Seeing Victory,” has a wonderful idea about giving lectures on inclusion in schools. It’s important to explain to children that there are many veterans and civilians with injuries, prosthetics, and that it’s necessary to behave and react appropriately in their presence. The key is to plant the seed of tolerance and nurture it from childhood.
“There probably isn’t a single universal recipe or algorithm for communicating with those who have sacrificed their health defending Ukraine – everyone has their ‘triggers’… But there are basic principles: respect, acceptance, personal space. From my experience, I can say that pity oppresses: when someone in my presence starts crying, lamenting ‘how sorry I feel for you,’ it doesn’t help, quite the opposite. When appropriate – it’s enough to simply offer your help to a blind person, but not to be intrusive.”
It’s crucial that society understands: every day, the number of Ukrainian defenders returning with physical and psychological traumas increases. Unfortunately, for now, the rehabilitation and subsequent employment of veterans who have lost their sight remain their own problem. The options that exist come from volunteer community organizations or charitable foundations… There are many courses – massage courses, psychology courses – one can learn.
“I am more of a creative person – I will be looking and thinking in this direction. I am still learning and adapting to life anew.”
Now, Ivan has his own blog @s_e_m_a_r_g_l_/ – incredibly “tasty” and colorful, where he tastes and talks about various unusual delicacies – tropical fruits and original treats from all over the world! Follow him – it’s very interesting!
“The idea to run my blog, and such an exotic one at that – both literally and figuratively – came spontaneously,” the man shares.
“Once Vladyslava’s mother visited us and brought some exotic fruits. They were lying around, and then I told my wife – let’s try filming an interesting tasting session. We shot a few videos, started posting them online – people responded, saying it was interesting, eat more,” he laughs…
“And then people started sending parcels with various delicacies – do a tasting of this, how do you like this product, and so it continues… I see now, I need to expand my tastings into a longer format… Maybe, eventually, I’ll start cooking – why not? I will learn and try! There are many interesting plans…
They say nothing is impossible if you want it. There’s so much I still want to do – from the ‘impossible,’ which I’m sure will become possible, to ordinary simple dreams. I want to live peacefully and enjoy life, victories, and peace for everyone.
From the first days on the front, I carried the Ukrainian flag with me and said: ‘Guys, we’re going to hang it on the Kremlin,'” Ivan smiles.
“I lost two flags – the first in Moschun, and the second on the Donetsk front, Ukraine – there, all my belongings were lost… But it’s okay – on Victory Day, I’ll find a flag to carry into the streets and celebrate with everyone!”
