Sasha and Olya Ostrovik are eternally grateful to Amma for binding them together in love. Sasha is from Kyiv, Ukraine, and Olya (born Usova) is from Moscow, Russia. Amma conducted their marriage on January 23, 2025, and as part of the ceremonies, she led prayers for the war between their countries to end.
In this deeply moving interview, the newlyweds share how the bloodshed between their birthlands has not destroyed their union. It has made their love stronger.
In 2019, Sasha and Olya first met in Amritapuri as visitors. Later that year, a romance blossomed when Sasha got work in Moscow. But then came the unimaginable—they were separated for four years in the face of a global pandemic and the terrifying conflict between their countries.
Today, Amritapuri is their home. Both say it is by Amma’s divine intervention that they were able to reunite. Otherwise, Sasha would still be in Ukraine, as men aged 18 to 60 must remain there on call for military duty.
In the Ashram, they live peacefully among over 2,000 international visitors and residents from diverse cultures, backgrounds, and faiths—many from nations facing conflict. They say this is a testament to the fact that love is beyond everything. All the national identities, misunderstandings and conflicts transform into a world family that shares everything, from washing dishes to prayers for universal harmony.
In keeping with Amma’s vision, both have dedicated their lives to reaching out to those who are suffering. Sasha is currently a fulltime PhD scholar at Amrita University in AMMACHI Labs. His research focuses on mental health interventions for people in Ukraine. They are designing online models to help ease symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress due to war and other events.
Since her childhood, Olya has wanted to support people in distress. She is in her second year at the Moscow Gestalt Institute to become a consulting psychologist. While living in Amritapuri, she is able to continue her studies online.
