A Russian ‘millionaire’ who turned to a giant billboard in her search for a husband is being wooed by a wealthy Ukrainian tycoon who responded with a billboard of his own.
Maria Molonova, 26, advertised herself on hoardings in her city Ulan-Ude seeking her Mr Right after sanctions stopped her using Tinder.
Now, despite the war, a jet-setting Ukrainian man based in Los Angeles has replied to the Russian rouble millionaire’s plea for love by paying for his own billboard in her city.
Serhii Kharkusha, also 26, a businessman, musician and online life coach, hired a billboard with the message: “Millionaire turn around, I’m already here.”
Serhii comes from the central Ukranian city of Kryvyi Rih, which has been blitzed by Putin during the war.
Despite raising money for the Ukrainian army Serhii said that while he hated Putin and his war of aggression, he had a great deal of affection for the Russian people, Maria in particular.
“I don’t respect war supporters - or Vladimir Putin. I do not understand what he is doing,” Serhii said.
“But I feel good being in love with a Russian woman. Most of my close friends are from Russia.”
When it came to finding love, Serhii said finding a like-minded partner was more important than what country your other half comes from, adding: “I choose those people whose values match mine. I do not support the war.”
Maria’s innovative approach to dating caught the eye of business owner Serhii, who is currently relaxing in Bali.
“I chose Maria because I saw her on the news after her advertisement, and she is my type. She is brave. She is bright.
“There are lots of women in LA but they are all wrong, and then I saw Maria - very creative - so I decided to pay for another billboard and write ‘I’m here’.
"As I’m from Ukraine - I cannot arrive in her city right now - but I want to send her a part of me. So I'm printing a full length photo of myself and sending it to her.”
Entrepreneur and mum-of-two, Maria, said of her Ukrainian suitor: "I liked that Serhii answered me in this way - he made his own advertisement.
“It's not predictable at all, he’s creative. It's great that men can behave like this.
“He got my attention. But what's next? He didn’t personally contact me yet and did not write anything. Does he really want to get to know me? I'm confused.”
She said for romance to blossom Serhii would need to step up and deliver the personal touch.
“I’d like him to approach me personally, and not to the whole city," she said.
Meanwhile, after her advertisement she has been inundated with replies from both Russian men and foreigners, she said.
Serhii said he had not replied to a questionnaire Maria had penned via a QR code to potential lovers because it was “too primitive”.
Instead, he secretly contacted her sister and ordered a limousine to take her and her friends out for the evening.
He plans to fly to Russia to meet her for a “romantic and unforgettable meeting” if he does not face “restrictions” as a Ukrainian, he said.
“I am resolving this now,” he said.
“I'm hoping we can meet in person and there is a way to develop our relationship. Time will tell.”
He is a US Green Card holder and is now applying for citizenship after living in America for eight years, he said.
He worked as a taxi driver, loader, and a dishwasher before running his own car business with a turnover of more than $2 million.
“I don’t find it odd to date a Russian woman or be in that country," he said. “Values are more important.
“Flying to Russia to me is not support for Putin or war. It’s just to be in the country.”
He has helped raise more than $40,000 for the Ukrainian army, he said.
Maria, like other Russians, has been unable to use dating apps like Tinder because Visa and Mastercard no longer operate in the country.
“I have nowhere to meet [a man],” she said a fortnight ago.
“And I really want to get married.”
The online businesswoman - who helps influencers run their accounts, and hosts management courses - told Baikal Daily: “Those who read my [ Instagram ] know that I can do everything in life - except build relationships.
“It used to be possible to get acquainted on special dating sites, but now they do not work in Russia.
“And I have no interest in sitting and just waiting for my man.
“I'm quite a creative person.”
She said: ”I want to cover the city as much as possible and, if I'm lucky, actually meet a man.”
