In the third episode of the romantic reality show 'The Bachelor', the main protagonist of the season, basketball player Viacheslav Kravtsov, invited Valeriia Polianska — a manager and close friend of TV presenter Lesia Nikituk — on their first date. According to Styler (a project by RBC-Ukraine), the meeting followed an unusual scenario: Kravtsov admitted beforehand that upon their first meeting, the girl reminded him of a fairy-tale character, and this exact association formed the basis of his romantic surprise. First, he prepared a luxurious dress for Polianska, and then, to keep the suspense, he blindfolded her and drove her by car to the date location.
A Date Above the City: A Suspended Platform Instead of Dinner
Instead of a standard romantic dinner, Kravtsov arranged a meeting 'right in the air' for the couple. A special suspended platform decorated with greenery and flowers, lifted above the ground by a crane truck, was set up for the date. The height offered a picturesque view of the city and nature, which was meant to complement the intended 'fairy-tale' atmosphere of their first meeting. As Styler notes, this unusual location became the main visual highlight of the episode.
Personal Conversations: Bakhmut and the NBA
The date was memorable not only for its scenery but also for an open conversation. Polianska shared painful memories of her hometown Bakhmut, which has fallen under Russian occupation, and spoke about difficult experiences in previous relationships, including betrayal by former partners. In response, Kravtsov spoke about a challenging period in his sports career: according to him, after entering the NBA, he went more than 30 matches without getting the chance to step onto the court, and this experience became one of his first truly painful trials. Despite the difficult topics, the couple, according to the publication, felt that their views on many things aligned.
The Rose and Competition Among Contestants
At the end of the date, Kravtsov handed Polianska a rose, allowing her to continue her participation in the project. Returning to the other contestants, the girl answered their questions: there was no kiss between the pair, but she had the rose. At the same time, the contestants, according to Styler, did not hide the fact that they were not very happy about the new rival.
How They Met: Potatoes with Sprats and a Broken Chair
Valeriia and Viacheslav's first acquaintance took place at the opening party of the 15th season of 'The Bachelor'. Polianska decided to surprise the basketball player with a cozy treat — potatoes with sprats, which, according to her, she had seen in Kravtsov's Instagram stories from an Odessa restaurant. The meeting was not without a humorous incident: one of the prepared chairs could not withstand the athlete's weight. Nevertheless, Kravtsov positively appreciated the gesture and joked that the girl definitely knows the way to a man's heart.
Behind the Scenes: The Story of a Forcibly Displaced Person
Behind Valeriia's bright appearance in the romantic reality show lies a personal story. The participant hails from Bakhmut, which is currently under Russian occupation. Previously, she published archival childhood photographs that her parents managed to take out of her hometown before the occupation, and together with her relatives, she recreated the old pictures in Kyiv. 'After all, neither the city nor the house exists anymore. There are only memories and photographs,' Polianska wrote, urging subscribers to support internally displaced persons.
