Since Russia’s invasion began, Ukrainian lives have been transformed — by violence and loss.

Photographer Natalie Keyssar’s photos attempt to pay homage to the bonds of love that each soldier is fighting for and the terror of losing those they love most. wapo.st/3OL76Yu

Anastasia Kucher and Yevgen Cherepnya:

When the invasion began, Anastasia was a journalist in Kyiv. She signed up as a combat medic, but struggled to get an assignment at the front. That’s when she wrote to Yevgen, a soldier in the 93rd Brigade, for help. wapo.st/3OL76Yu

Anastasia joined the 93rd Brigade, working in the field hospitals while Yevgen took part in combat missions.

As their courtship began, he fought in Bakhmut while she saved lives at the nearest evacuation point. wapo.st/3OL76Yu

Separated for months, she dreaded seeing him brought to her on a stretcher, often waking up in the middle of the night to text to ask if he was okay.

The couple were married in a small ceremony in Kyiv. Shortly afterward, they were separated again. wapo.st/3OL76Yu

Maria Petrovska:

Maria Petrovska was playing the bandura, a traditional Ukrainian instrument, to soldiers, trying to boost morale on the front lines, when she met and fell in love with another musician.

Since then, the couple has moved on, separated by the distance like so many

“Andri”:

Andri fell in love with Alexii at first sight. On their second date, they told each other everything — even exchanging passwords, credit card numbers and family contacts, just in case something happened to one of them. wapo.st/3OL76Yu

They spent four more blissful nights together, any time Alexii could get away from the fighting. One day, Alexii stopped responding to Andri’s messages. He had been killed in combat.

Now, he visits the grave alone. Alexii had not told his family he was in love with a man, and

For more heart-wrenching love stories and beautiful photos from Natalie Keyssar, read the full story here: wapo.st/3OL76Yu