“After the Victory, we will live in Berdyansk”: the love story of a British and Ukrainian woman

Photos Natalia Isakova from Zaporozhye and her husband - a volunteer from England James Caprini — circled social networks and the media. One of the most impressive shots is a photo where Natalya and James stand in front of the ruins that were once a home, but destroyed by a Russian missile. Natalia in a wedding dress, shoulders covered with the British flag. And James has Ukrainian. Their marriage was reported in the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine. talked with Natalia and found out the details of their acquaintance and love story with James.

“On the third day of our acquaintance, James said that I would be his wife”

Speaking to local reporters on the day of the wedding, James Caprini said that if it were not for the war, he would never have met Natalia. He came to Ukraine because of a full-scale invasion - when, reading the news, he realized that he could not sit idly by.

- James drove here with the intention of going to the front, - tells Natalia. - He once fought in Africa and Syria, so he has some experience. James came to Ukraine, but he did not know anyone here and did not understand what to do first. And at that time I was in Lviv with my two children. Although my first husband and I were still married on paper, in fact we have not been together for several years, and he has been living in Poland for a long time.

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A full-scale war caught us with the children at home in Zaporozhye. It was very scary, and we almost immediately left for Lviv. Once in relative safety, I exhaled a little and realized that I couldn’t just sit and wait for something - I wanted to be useful to the Ukrainian army. At the same time, there was no one to leave the children to, I was in a city unfamiliar to me and did not know how, except for donations, I could help. Then we met James. We had one goal - to help the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Perhaps that is why we were destined to meet.

The history of our acquaintance is very banal - we saw each other on the street, got into a conversation. However, I can not say that I knew English well. What phrases she understood, but James did not know a single Ukrainian word. But one day we understood each other. When I found out for what purpose he came to Ukraine, it struck me. Until February 24, he lived in England, he has housing there, abundance, an equipped life. But in the blink of an eye he dropped everything and went here, under rockets and bombs, to help the Ukrainian people. He told me that he wanted to go to war. I said that I would like to significantly help the Armed Forces of Ukraine financially, but I have neither acquaintances nor connections, and I don’t know how to organize all this. And James said that we can apply to British organizations - he will personally call them by phone, write, and arrange everything - if then I help him coordinate the process here in Ukraine. Since this all started.

James did find several organizations in the UK at once who agreed to help. The help was very significant. And the fact that they were approached by James, a citizen of their country, who was in Ukraine and personally saw and controlled everything, helped us a lot. We quickly realized that together we can do a lot. We became a real team.

- And when did you become a ferry?

- Also fast enough. Despite the obvious language barrier, we understood each other well. And already on the third day of our acquaintance, James said that I would be his wife. He didn’t even ask, he stated categorically. I then decided that he was joking. We laughed together, but now I understand that he was not joking.

“James wants to go to war, but so far he has been very effective as a volunteer”

- He quickly got to know my children, they liked him very much, Natalia continues. - I think, first of all, because they saw: mom is good with this person. And I really felt so easy and calm with him. I guess that’s what happens when you find your someone. Our relationship as a couple began in Lviv. But at the beginning of last summer, we made the difficult decision to return to Zaporozhye. Not easy, because it was much more dangerous there, and last summer the city was under constant shelling. But I really wanted to go home. In addition, it was important for James and me to be closer to the front - then we already began to constantly go there and carry help to the Armed Forces of Ukraine and civilians living very close to the zero position. We traveled and continue to travel there together. I want to be around, and besides, it’s really easier for James with me, if only because I can be his translator. Over the past year my English has improved significantly. And I can be very helpful, for example, when James needs to explain in Ukrainian at the checkpoint where and why he is going.

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It gets very scary. We often get under fire. Quite recently there was a situation when we were driving in the direction of the front in pouring rain. Usually in such weather a little calmer, shelling is unlikely. And then they did not have time to reach their destination, as several “arrivals” at once. But we, thank God, managed to run into the basement. James still wants to go to war, but so far he has been very effective as a volunteer. He really manages to do a lot of things. But I understand that the moment may come when he leaves to fight. Although, to tell you honestly, as a wife, I really would not want this.

- When did you decide to get married?

- After a few months of our relationship, it became clear that James was not joking about the wedding - he really wanted me to become his wife. And by that time I already understood that I also want this. But not everything was so simple. We had to complete a lot of paperwork. In addition, it turned out that James already had an expired Ukrainian visa - having arrived here, he thought about the war, assistance to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, negotiations with British organizations, but not about his documents.

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As a result, it took months to resolve all these issues. And when everything was finally decided a few weeks ago, we organized the wedding in three days! A wedding dress, guests (we are very glad that our friends were able to attend), the idea of ​​​​with the British and Ukrainian flags on the shoulders as a unification of the two countries during this terrible bloody war … For both of us, this is not the first marriage, but it was important for us to sign and do it that way. Unfortunately, many of my relatives were not able to attend - because of the war, they are all scattered in different countries. But we will definitely make up for everything. I am glad that James met and found a common language with my mother. At first she was wary of him - she asked me if he was definitely not a foreign spy. (laughs. - Auth.). But now they have a great relationship.

- Have you met James’ family yet?

- Not yet, but we want to take a short trip to England. James has many children, they are already adults. But he wants more (smiles. - Auth.). I look forward to meeting my family. But we have already decided that we will live in Ukraine anyway. Both now, when we are useful and effective here, and after the victory. We will live in Berdyansk. I have a house there. It is now under occupation, but I believe that very soon we will be able to return there.

Earlier, FACTS wrote about the father of 12 children, pastor Vladimir Brychko from the Rivne region, who evacuated thousands of people from hot spots: “Corpses were everywhere - on roads, sidewalks, in forest plantations.”