LGBT couple who fled Russian war marry in Derbyshire
Yulia and Tetiana currently live in Belper but hope to inspire others to 'be who they are' when they return to their homeland
An LGBT refugee couple from Ukraine have got married at Ripley Town Hall - one year after fleeing the war with Russia.
Yulia and Tetiana, have been together for 10 years and have wanted to say their vows for a long time. However, they were unable to in Ukraine because same-sex marriages and civil partnerships are not recognised there.
Tetiana told us about their special day: "We have wonderful photos, and very nice personal videos. wonderful memories about our very little, very private but still very special ceremony."
The couple always planned for a wedding abroad because of the restrictions in Ukraine: "When war forced us to escape and when we were more settled and safe we decided to go back to our plans and we discovered that we were allowed to get married here in the UK. It was wonderful."
The couple now want to return to Ukraine when it is safe to do so, and inspire others to 'be who they are'.
Since their wedding on the 1st of March, a Ukrainian MP has put forward a bill calling for same-sex partnerships to be legally recognised, Tetiana said: "This is a great step ahead, to the equality and diversity, to a wonderful bright future, which will be better for all of us... man, non-binary person, women and men who want to be together despite their gender or sex."
Yulia and Tetiana now live with their host family, Sarah and Helen Barley-McMullenin Belper. They were put in touch after offering to give their home to LGBT refugees.