Every year, TIME selects 200 inventions that change the world. This year, the Unified Portal of Public Services Diia made the list in the Apps and Software category, thanks to its newly launched online marriage service.
TIME describes this service as "unromantic," explaining that one partner can propose through the app. If the other agrees, they can schedule a wedding date via video call on the Webex platform.
"It may seem like a harsh way to profess love, but it was designed to help many Ukrainian couples who are physically separated due to Russia's invasion of the country continue their lives," TIME explains to its readers.
The news was also met with a response from the head of the Ministry of Digital Transformation, Mykhailo Fedorov.
"This is a cool recognition of our product. Previous winners included OpenAI GPT-4, Zoom, Duolingo, and now our Ukrainian Diia is in the ranking," he wrote.
It’s worth noting that the video call marriage service was launched in Diia in September this year, allowing Ukrainians to get married remotely without needing to appear in person at civil registry offices.
In nearly two months of the service’s operation in Diia, over 1,300,000 proposals have been made, and 600 weddings have taken place.
