In Kyiv, Ukraine, a tale of resilience unfolds as Olha Kurtmalaieva clings to life in an intensive care unit, confronting Stage 4 cancer. As the chemotherapy drugs coursed through her veins, she grappled with the prospect of dying alone while her husband, a Ukrainian soldier, remained in Russian captivity amid the ongoing conflict. The thought of leaving him with no one to bring him back kept her fighting. Against all odds, Olha achieved remission last year, yet the shadow of her husband’s captivity loomed large. Despite numerous prisoner exchanges, including one that saw over 1,000 individuals freed, her husband remains held.
Olha tirelessly attends these exchanges, joining hundreds of other Ukrainian women desperate to reunite with their loved ones. “He’s interwoven into every moment of my existence,” she expressed, carrying his images wherever she went. Each day was a battle between agonizing worries and absolute determination: “What can I do to hasten his return? Have I done enough today?”
Before Russia’s full-scale invasion, Olha was just 21 when diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Stage 2. The disease was treatable back then. Her early adult life revolved around chemotherapy rounds, with her husband, Ruslan, by her side. Their love story began in 2015 by the shores of Berdiansk and flourished amidst national turmoil. By age 18, Olha married Ruslan, who committed to standing with her through her fight against cancer.
From the outset, Olha accepted the sacrifices inherent in being a military spouse—long separations, uncertain futures—yet she was unprepared for the current reality: waiting for her husband’s release from captivity. Describing Ruslan, Olha spoke with tears of his kindness and sense of justice, attributes that fueled his sense of duty to reclaim Crimea.
Olha’s struggle escalated with the loss of her hair during treatment. Ruslan’s supportive words, and later admissions of his quiet gestures like gathering her fallen hair each morning, brought comfort amidst her battles. His capture in April changed everything. As she navigated life under occupation, Olha quietly aided Ukrainian forces, even as her health deteriorated without necessary medical care.
Her resolve never wavered. Even after leaving occupied Berdiansk in June 2022, Olha continued her activism to raise awareness of Ukrainian POWs. Her neglect of health matters during this period led her cancer to progress to Stage 4, demanding emergency intervention as she coped with excruciating pain.
Despite severe challenges, Olha defied expectations. News of her remission came shortly before her birthday in 2024. Now, she balances activism with managing an online cosmetics business, co-founding the Marine Corps Strength Association. This group advocates for over 1,000 Ukrainian POWs, sharing fragmented stories of Ruslan she pieces together from former prisoners.
Through painstaking investigation, Olha learned of Ruslan’s ordeals—beatings, solitary confinement, and emotional manipulation via repeated Russian national anthems and religious pressures. Despite everything, Ruslan’s resilience endures. Stories of his hope linger when he tells fellow prisoners of Olha’s strength and commitment to their cause.
Determined, Olha continues to fight. “The idea of weakness is unfathomable,” she affirms. For her, strength and resilience are not just her lifelines—they are promises to Ruslan. Her fight is not just for a husband, but embodied in the spirit of a marine’s wife who will never yield until he’s home.