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When Love Transcends War: Amma Weds a Couple from Russia and Ukraine 

Amma kisses the newlyweds' hands
The bride and groom first met in 2019 as visitors to Amritapuri, but the COVID pandemic and then war kept them apart for four years.

Key Points

  • The groom, Sasha, is from Kyiv and the bride, Olya, is from Moscow. During their marriage on January 23, 2025, Amma led prayers for the war between their countries to end. 
  • The couple says that although the conflict has torn apart many families, it has made their love for each other stronger. It carries a responsibility to show that love is beyond all disputes.
  • Sasha is a PhD scholar at Amrita University developing online interventions to help ease symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress in Ukraine. Olya is studying psychology online with the Moscow Gestalt Institute.
25 January 2025
Main topic
Amma
Related topics
Amritapuri Humanitarian Spiritual

Sasha and Olya Ostrovik are eternally grateful to Amma for binding them together in love. Sasha is from Kyiv, Ukraine, and Olya 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 Amritapuri, 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 this deeply moving interview, the newlyweds share how the bloodshed between their birthlands has not destroyed their union. It has made their love stronger.


When did you first meet?

Sasha: We met here in Amritapuri in 2019. This was my first trip to Amritapuri and I was only here for two weeks. 

Olya: When I first saw Sasha, I felt a lot of love right away. Right from that moment, I had a feeling that I have known him for many lifetimes. 

What sparked a romance? 

Sasha: Later in that same year, I was located in Moscow for half a year due to my work and this is the city where Olya lived. 

Olya: Occasionally, we would go for long walks and in winter, we went skating. We talked a lot and as our friendship grew stronger, I felt he was my soulmate. In fact, I told my parents and close friends that Sasha would be my husband.

How did the COVID pandemic separate you?

Sasha: In 2020 when COVID hit, I happened to be in Ukraine. I went there for just two to three weeks to visit my family. But that trip ended up being an almost two-year relocation to Ukraine. My two-year lockdown. 

Olya: And I couldn’t leave Russia. I was worried because we didn’t know if we would be able to see each other in the near future. With Sasha in Ukraine, we kept in touch online. 

What happened when the war between your countries broke out? 

Sasha: Actually, this was definitely Amma’s divine intervention. Before the war started, I was already planning to move to Amritapuri. Suddenly one day, my sister called me to say no need to spend much more time in Ukraine helping my parents. I should move to India soon. 

That was a total shock to me because she never supported me. She never understood me in this desire to move to India to follow the spiritual path. 

I put my phone down and I remember those few seconds, minutes, I was speechless. It was as if literally Amma called me. And I knew this was a sign from Her. And I knew that I had to move really fast. 

I luckily boarded the plane and came here to Amritapuri, and then after a few weeks, this war broke out. If it wasn’t for that trip, who knows? Until now, I probably could not have left Ukraine. Even today, the border crossing remains restricted for able-bodied men from age 18 to 60. 

Olya: One day I woke up in the morning, I took my phone, and I saw a message from my friend—the war has started. It was a shock to me. I couldn’t believe it. First thing I did was to write to my friends in Ukraine and to Sasha. 

Sasha: The initial months were very challenging. Especially for the area where my parents stayed. They were located close to the border and so for one-and-a-half months, they were very close to the frontline. 

They had electricity cuts and they also were cut out from the mainland, from all the transportation. Most terrifying was that a lot of war action was happening on the roads. So they could not move around. This also meant the food supply was limited. 

Olya: I remember one day just being at the railway station in Moscow and soldiers passed by in their uniforms heading to the battlefields. It was so scary. I was worried for my friends who lived in Ukraine. I was worried about what would happen to Russia. It was hard to say where all this would lead. I really wanted to help, but I didn’t know how. I felt hopelessness and despair.

When did you reunite? 

Olya: By 2024, I hadn’t visited India for five years, but I was dreaming about coming to Amritapuri. I wanted to see Amma and I knew that Sasha was here. I didn’t tell him I was coming because I wanted it to be a surprise. When I arrived, we met right at the Ashram gates. I was so excited that my heart was about to jump out of my chest! I felt shy but I also felt a lot of love. It was as though we had never been separated. 

Sasha: Of course, I was very happy to see her. But it was just so unexpected, my mind could not comprehend it at first! I just feel immense gratitude to Amma because if it wasn’t for Her, we wouldn’t have reunited.

How did you decide to marry? 

Sasha: We spent a lot of time going for long walks at the beach. I was thinking about proposing to her for over a month! But to make sure it was the right moment, I was waiting for one of those red sunsets. Anyway, one evening the sky was a little reddish, and I was, of course, a little nervous, like every man probably is…. 

Olya: It was very romantic. When the sun set, it was a full moon and you could see a moonlight path on the sea surface. Sasha went down on one knee and said the words that every girl wishes to hear. I said yes. I was very happy.

What is your life in Amritapuri today? 

Sasha: It’s been two years now that I am a fulltime PhD scholar here in Amrita University with AMMACHI Labs. We do research on how to improve mental health to make people more resistant, more resilient. In my case, I try to in any way I can contribute to those in Ukraine. We’re designing online interventions to help ease symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress that people might have due to the Russia-Ukraine war or other events. 

Olya: I live as an ashramite, with my days devoted to sadhana, seva, and that precious time with Amma. I am also studying to be a consulting psychologist at the Moscow Gestalt Institute. Classes are mostly online, and for offline sessions, my friends are able to support me. Since childhood, I wanted to be a psychologist and help people.  

How did you feel that moment when Amma conducted your marriage? 

Olya: When Amma was marrying us, it was very exciting. I didn’t expect Her to shower so much grace and love on us! When She mentioned for everyone to pray for Russia and Ukraine, my eyes started tearing up and I saw many people on the stage crying. It was a profound blessing—both for us and our countries. I know that this war has separated many families and it is very sad. But for Sasha and me, it has made our relationship stronger.

Sasha: I also see a lot of responsibility in this relationship. It shows that love is above everything. Love is above all the national identities. Love is above the disputes and misunderstandings. And every day, we pray to Amma that this war ends soon. The earlier it finishes, the more lives will be saved.

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