The beauty of Ukrainian women might have earned them international fame, but it’s not helping some of them find prospective husbands among the thousands of male football fans who came from abroad to the Euro 2012 championship.
Although the fans seem to be happy to meet the women, tying the knot does not seem to be on their agenda.
“We came here because of the reputation of Ukrainian women for being beautiful and seductive,” says Frenchman Patrick, who does not want to give his last name because “it was difficult to convince our wives to let us go.”
Patrick said only one of his friends is looking for a woman for a long-term relationship. The other three limited themselves to “window-shopping.”
All in their 40s, they have been struck “by the amount of beauty per square meter,” as he puts it. They have had a good time trying to “meet people, eat with them, talk with them, play football.”
“The level of welcome that we have received was phenomenal, people really opened their hearts,” says Laurent, the one Frenchman looking for his Eastern European love.
She might have been just a few steps away.
Two young Ukrainian ladies, both 17, have spent a lot of their time just outside the official fan zone in Kyiv. Despite their youth, Anastasia Ishchenko and Masha Komova thought Euro 2012 presented them with the perfect opportunity to meet the loves of their lives.
They haven’t had any luck yet, or even much attention, but still hope that anything can happen. “Of course we want to meet new people. There are a lot of people and a lot of handsome men here,” Komova says. Both young women agree that nationality and religion do not matter when it comes to love.
The hot weather enveloping Kyiv has prompted young women to dress lightly. Combined with the beer that fans drank to stay cool, these chance encounters are often filled with effusive, alcohol-fueled – though undoubtedly sincere — compliments.
“Ukrainian girls are very, very beautiful and very friendly,” says Clacs Furk, a 38-year old Swedish fan. Along with two of his buddies, he has tried to make friends with some Ukrainian beauties, but has had no luck so far.
“We sat and talked to them for about two hours, but when we asked them to show us around the city they just disappeared,” he complains. Furk says he still hopes to meet a couple of nice Ukrainian women before the end of the tournament.
He might be lucky, as Ukrainians have really liked the friendly Swedes, who sadly departed after their team was knocked out of the tournaments. Ukrainians swarmed to Trukhaniv Island, where the Swedish camp is located, for a closer look. Dozens of beauties relaxed on the nearby beaches, in bathing suits and without. But the Swedes don’t yield to easy temptations.
Maryna David, 45, who had succeeded in marrying a foreigner in the past, says she understands those women who want to do the same. “Ukrainianmen mostly lack generosity and good manners,” she says. At the same time, she warns Ukrainain women to be careful not to create the wrong image for themselves and fellow ladies.
“Many Ukrainian girls behave the wrong way trying to attract foreigners’ attention,” she says. “If a girl wears a short skirt, she will attract men’s attention – though most likely not the kind of attention she wants.”
David, a psychologist, is sure that the majority of foreigners who came here for Euro 2012 are not looking for a serious relationship and don’t take Ukrainian women seriously.
Furk, the Swede who was charmed with Ukrainian beauties, agrees. He and his friends burst out laughing when asked about how serious their intentions are for Ukrainian ladies. “This is just for fun,” Furk says.
Yulia Titova, manager of a dating agency in Kyiv, said nothing has changed in terms of long-term interest in relationships between Ukrainian women and foreign men. “Ukrainian women have not become more interested in foreigners, and foreigners have not become more interested in Ukrainian women,” she concludes.
Kyiv Post staff writer Daryna Shevchenko can be reached at [email protected].
