Partner visa for a Ukrainian

[Pandamyaka]

Hi everyone
I would like some help with gathering information about how to apply for this visa in a right way

Background about me and my partner:
I'm from Ukraine, and my boyfriend is from the UK. We met online in a game and have been together for 1 year and 5 months in a long-distance relationship. I have already visited him 3 times, but he hasn’t been able to visit me for obvious reasons.

Now, we are planning to take a more serious step. One of the reasons is that planning visits is quite difficult due to the current situation in my country, and traveling itself is exhausting for me because it takes over 20 hours (a bus from Ukraine to Poland and then a flight to the UK)

I have read the information on GOV.UK, but there are so many details and additional conditions that I feel overwhelmed.

So far, I have had 2 6-month visitor visas and have already applied for a 3rd one for this summer. The first two are no longer valid.

My questions are:
1) Do we have enough evidence for the Partner Visa?
For proof of our relationship, we have:
- Flight tickets (he paid for my flights twice, I paid once)
- rubbish tickets (but they don't have our names)
- Gift cards from him with our names on them, and from me to him (though I understand this may not be strong proof)
- WhatsApp/Discord conversations
- WhatsApp call logs
Additionally, if needed, we are also willing to provide letters from our family and friends confirming our relationship. Would these be helpful in strengthening our case?

However, we don’t have any photos together from my previous visits, as we simply didn’t take any. The only photos we will have are from my visit this summer.
Would this be enough, considering we do have other supporting evidence?
I read that the "2-year rule" is not mandatory as long as we can demonstrate a serious and committed relationship through strong evidence

2) What additional evidence should I collect during my next visit?
I plan to visit my partner for approximately 5 weeks this summer.
Additionally, I have prepared a detailed letter explaining why we haven’t been able to live together, covering the following points:
Our commitment to a long-term future together.
- The visa restrictions that prevented me from staying in the UK for extended periods.
- The impact of the war in my home country, making travel difficult for both of us.
- Our ongoing efforts to maintain a serious relationship, including my past visits, financial contributions from my partner, and daily communication.
- Our future plans, including living arrangements and long-term intentions as a couple.
Would such a letter be beneficial as supporting evidence? Are there any specific details I should include to make it stronger?

[Ticktack]

Others might have a different opinion or take on this. But mine is, all what you have going on probably isn't strong enough kinda.

Before you take this the wrong way, here is my view.

Some married couples still get their spouse visa rejected because the HO isn't convinced enough. Even though the have a legal government document saying that they're married. With their names and witnesses on a piece of paper. The evidence needed, needs to be overwhelming.
Even some with kids between them still get denied.

How do you evidence a boyfriend/girlfriend living in different countries. As far as the HO is concerned, it might not even be something serious.

You'll need to have lived together akin to marriage. Have bills in both names. Basically living together and doing normal things that married people do.