In Russia, collective marriages held in emergency before men go to the front

It is not one but several marriages celebrated at the same time. The Russian district of Kourortny, in the Saint Petersburg region, authorized since Friday that couples marry collectively when the man goes to fight in Ukraine, as part of the mobilization decreed by Vladimir Putin. Images of these ceremonies were broadcast on the YouTube channel of local television.

The scene is unusual. A dozen couples, working men and plainclothes women, walk into a room and sit on chairs to the very recognizable sound of the wedding march by Felix Mendelssohn, a visibly universal wedding hymn.

“Honestly, I am speechless,” writes British journalist Francis Scarr, who specializes in analyzing the Russian media.

“Being mobilized to fight in Ukraine is now considered a valid reason to speed up the marriage registration process,” he said.

At the call of his name, the bride and groom take turns getting up from their chairs and monotonously pronouncing “Da” (“Yes”), which means that they wish to marry their partner. It is time for the exchange of alliances, again carried out between the rows of chairs. The couples are soon separated by the men’s exit to the front, exchanging smiles before going to sign their marriage contract.

“An Extra Boost for Morale”

Reporters on the spot explain (in a context of strict control of media discourse by the power) that these quick marriages just before leaving for the conflict motivate the soldiers.

“Knowing that the person you love is at home waiting for her husband is an additional morale boost. It also gives a sense of stability,” explains the voiceover.

At the end of the ceremony, to which relatives can be invited, the bride and groom even receive a gift from the neighbourhood: a teapot and a set of cups decorated with blue flowers.

“Let me shake your hand and thank you for not running away, for not being afraid, for being there,” explains one of the ceremony leaders, handing a box to a soldier.

In Ukraine, an increase in marriages has been observed since the beginning of the Russian invasion. In Kyiv, for example, the authorities celebrated 9,210 marriages in five months, eight times more than in the same period in 2021. Many couples marry before one of the partners – or even the couple themselves – comes forward.