The Bachelor Returning to Ukraine

Warner Bros. International Television Production (WBITVP) and Starlight Media are bringing The Bachelor back for a 13th season in Ukraine, with veteran Oleksandr Budko as the new bachelor.

28-year-old Budko volunteered to defend Ukraine in February 2022. Despite losing both of his limbs during the fighting, he has not stopped pursuing his dreams. He has helped and advocated for other war veterans, won an international Invictus Games competition, taken part in a ballet performance with the United Ukrainian Ballet and appeared in the film Front Row.

The new season of The Bachelor will be coming to STB this fall.

“We thank Warner Bros. International Television for this undoubtedly important partnership and their willingness to see new power and senses in the world’s iconic format in the extraordinary circumstances of the Russian-Ukrainian war,” said Oleksandr Bohutskyi, CEO of Starlight Media. “We believe that love and life will win. This fall, on STB, we will be cheering for the love story of our modern-day hero and shaping the culture of new relationships.”

Andrew Zein, WBITVP’s senior VP of creative, format development and sales, added, “The Bachelor is one of the world’s most loved and successful dating formats, and we are thrilled to be working with Starlight Media and STB to bring it back to Ukraine. Having someone as inspirational as Oleksandr Budko as this season’s bachelor is incredibly exciting, and we have no doubt that he’s going to be hugely popular with contestants and audiences alike.”

“I am not looking for an ideal,” Budko said. “I’m looking for someone whose inner world I can admire. I want her to be a person with great respect for veterans, who cares about barrier-free and inclusive spaces. For me, The Bachelor is a chance to meet someone I want to try and start a family with. I know from my own experience that miracles can be found anywhere, and I believe one can find love on the show. Of course, it’s also a great opportunity to spread a lot of good and positive ideas that can change us for the better.”