Themes by tag: women
For 16 years, Nataliia and Maksym Shyshkin built their life together. Maksym worked in transportation across Ukraine, and when the full-scale invasion began, it found him on the road. In the early hours of February 24, 2022, he was driving home from Odesa. By the next day, he had already reported to the military registration office. His words to Nataliia were resolute: “I have two sons growing up. I have to defend our land so the occupiers don’t come here.”
Maksym served as a combat medic. Initially, he joined the Border Guard Service of Ukraine before being assigned to the 15th Mobile Border Guard Detachment. He defended the Chernihiv region, later Donetsk, and braved numerous conflict zones.
During one of his missions, Maksym came under heavy artillery fire and suffered a critical injury to his temple. His comrades, risking their own lives, evacuated him and transported him to a hospital in Dnipro. Maksym slipped into a coma, and Nataliia stayed by his side for days. In a moment filled with both hope and heartbreak, Nataliia’s father-in-law brought their eldest son, Tymofii, to the hospital. The boy walked into the ward, took his father’s hand, and softly said, “Hi, Dad, I’m next to you.” The machines monitoring Maksym’s vitals suddenly sounded alarms as his heart gave out. That was his final moment.
The loss of her husband plunged Nataliia into deep grief. But one day, Tymofii approached her, wrapped his arms around her, and said something that changed everything: “Mom, you should dress nicely, put on some makeup, do your hair, and take a walk with me. You are the best one here. Dad is proud of you. He chose a great mom for us.” The unwavering love of her sons, coupled with her dedication to her work, helped her reclaim her life. Nataliia, a passionate cosmetologist, found solace in her profession, which became a source of strength during the darkest days.
Nataliia and her sons are now supported by the Children of Heroes charity foundation. This organization aids children who have lost one or both parents due to Russia’s full-scale invasion. It provides financial assistance, psychological and legal support, and ensures the children’s education and development until they reach adulthood.
Yuliia Buniak, originally from Crimea, has called Kyiv home since her university days. Now a widow raising her 14-year-old son, Tymofii, she is navigating life after her husband was killed in action on August 3, 2023, while serving on the frontlines.
For Yuliia, the russian-Ukrainian conflict began in 2014 with the annexation of her homeland. Her husband joined the military shortly after the invasion, fought for over a year, and then returned to civilian life. But the full-scale russian assault in February 2022 marked a turning point. On the evening of February 23, as the couple shared a quiet moment at home, a call from the territorial recruitment office changed their lives. Her husband reported for duty the next morning, initially serving in Kyiv before being deployed to the eastern front. As a mortar operator, he carried out missions near Bakhmut, one of the most fiercely contested areas of the war. After completing his first rotation in December 2022, he returned home briefly, allowing the family to celebrate the New Year together. But during his second deployment, tragedy struck. On August 3, 2023, he was killed during an artillery strike near Pivnichnyi, in Donetsk’s Bakhmut district.
Yuliia reflects on the close bond her husband shared with Tymofii. From teaching him to drive to bonding over their shared love of boxing, their relationship was filled with cherished moments. Last year, Tymofii had the chance to meet his idol, Oleksandr Usyk, and even attended his fight in Riyadh with his mother.
For reference: The Children of Heroes Foundation is now providing essential support to Yuliia and Tymofii. The organization, dedicated to aiding children who have lost one or both parents due to russia’s invasion, offers financial assistance, psychological counseling, legal aid, and educational resources to help them thrive despite their loss.
Tetiana Hatsura-Yavorska, a citizen of Belarus, has been a human rights activist since 2006. Later she founded the human rights organization “Zvyano”. After the Belarusian protests in 2020, a criminal case was opened against Tetiana for her activism, which displeased the Belarusian authorities. She was arrested and threatened that her child would be sent to an orphanage. Her husband took the child and fled the country. After spending 10 days in a detention center, Tetiana was released but banned from leaving Belarus.
After russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Tetiana decided to leave Minsk illegally. Upon arriving in Kyiv, she immediately began volunteering and raising funds to purchase vacuum therapy devices for hospitals. During two years of war, she raised more than 100,000 euros for these devices. She later founded the “Lanka” rehabilitation center for wounded soldiers.
At “Lanka”, soldiers recover from injuries to their arms, legs and spine, and can also receive treatment for gastrointestinal and neurological problems. Since its inception, the center has rehabilitated 60 soldiers, including international volunteers.
You can contact Tetiana Hatsura-Yavorska online or in person in Kyiv by prior arrangement.
Dina Chmuzh witnessed the beginning of the full-scale invasion in her hometown of Kharkiv. Her father joined the Defense Forces, and Dina and her mother initially refused to leave the city. They eventually evacuated in March 2022, but returned to Kharkiv a few months later.
Since then, the artist has been writing poetry on the plywood used to replace windows and storefronts shattered by explosions. Dina has created about 20 murals with poems by Ukrainian poets. In the future, she hopes to incorporate verses by Lyubov Yakymchuk, Bohdan Kutsenko, and Yaryna Chornoguz into her murals.
You can contact Dina Chmuzh online or by appointment in Kharkiv.
Ukraine has launched its first-ever all-women mobile air defense units, known as the “Bucha Witches,” in the Kyiv region’s Bucha community. Formed entirely by volunteers, the units operate as part of the Bucha Territorial Community’s military volunteer force.
The group unites women from varied backgrounds—spanning different ages, professions, and education levels—who juggle civilian responsibilities with combat duties, serving every three days. According to the formation’s headquarters, their mission includes defending Bucha and occasionally the neighboring Hostomel community. The units primarily intercept enemy drones and missiles, with additional counter-sabotage operations as needed.
This version retains all essential details but is slightly more concise and adheres to professional reporting standards.
Maryna Zhdan is a 44-year-old Lviv resident and mother of four. Before the beginning of the full-scale war, Maryna was an avid traveler, running her own travel blog and visiting 40 countries. But she says her favorite place is in Ukraine: the village of Stuzhytsia in Zakarpattia, home to a 1,300-year-old oak tree. The majestic tree made a deep impression on her, as she has loved plants since childhood. When Maryna moved into her own home, she began transforming her surroundings into a lush indoor jungle.
In 2022, Maryna decided to sell her plants to raise money for the Ukrainian Armed Forces. She created a social media page called “Khatni Khashchi” (“Home Jungle”). Through her efforts, she managed to raise 380,000 UAH to support the Ukrainian Army.
Later, Maryna and her daughter began to set up a place they named “MAZANKA Space”. Once renovations are complete, it will serve as a potted plant shop and her daughter will offer tattoo services.
You can contact Maryna Zhdan either online or in person in Lviv by appointment.
The instructors of the Voluntary Formation No. 1 of the Municipal Territorial Community of Irpin and the Municipal Guard continue their efforts to prepare for the national resistance. Recently, another training session was held for members of the NGO “Ukrainian Women’s Guard”, where participants studied tactical skills (movement in small groups using hand signals, enemy observation techniques and surveillance tools) and military topography (navigation using maps and other methods).
By prior arrangement, journalists will have the opportunity to cover the next training session on January 19. IMPORTANT: Journalists must be prepared to obscure (e.g., blur) the faces of participants and instructors during the training.
Background: The Ukrainian Women’s Guard is a national network of the women’s resistance movement. Its goal is to unite women in crisis situations and teach them how to survive and resist the enemy.
Kateryna Pisna, the wife of an Armed Forces serviceman, has launched a social car repair shop in Mykolaiv, a city in southern Ukraine. The idea was born when her husband, who had been mobilized to serve in the Defense Forces, began contemplating life after his return to civilian life. Together, they envisioned opening a car service station to build a new chapter.
To bring their plan to life, the couple applied for and secured a grant. A key requirement of the funding was incorporating a social component into the business. Using the grant, they purchased six manual handling units designed to adapt cars for individuals with lower extremities amputations. The shop will retrofit these systems free of charge for customers with disabilities.
Each handling unit costs 12,000 hryvnias. Four of them will be distributed through a raffle among graduates of a local driving school for people with disabilities. The remaining units will be available for installation on a first-come, first-served basis, with plans to replenish the supply as needed.
Currently, the repair shop employs a car mechanic and an assistant, but Kateryna and her husband have broader ambitions. They hope to expand by opening a car shop in the future.
Kateryna is available to connect online or in person in Mykolaiv, with meetings arranged by appointment.
For the first time in Ukraine, surgeons have performed a groundbreaking facial nerve reconstruction using the most advanced method available. This unique procedure was successfully performed by specialists at St. Panteleimon Hospital of the First Medical Association of Lviv. On January 13, journalists are invited to meet the patient and the surgical team in Lviv.
The patient, 33-year-old Olha Rudenko from Kherson, faced a life-changing challenge. Several years ago, doctors discovered and removed a cyst from her left parotid gland. Unfortunately, the cyst came back, and a second surgery in this high-risk area damaged the trunk of the facial nerve. As a result, the left side of Olha’s face was completely paralyzed.
Reconstructive surgeons from Lviv, in cooperation with international specialists, performed a complex procedure known as facial nerve reanimation. This cutting-edge method is considered the most advanced and challenging in the world, with a 99% success rate. It was a first for Ukraine and a resounding success.
Three months after the surgery, the results are already visible. Olha has started to smile again. Her cheek is gradually regaining movement and her left eye can now close. However, nerve recovery is a long process, and the final results will not be seen for up to a year after the surgery. Olha is currently in rehabilitation.
Journalists must register to attend.
Additional materials: Footage of the patient before surgery and images of the procedure will be available.
At 72 years old, Tetiana Tepliuk’s resilience is nothing short of extraordinary. A soldier in the Azov Regiment, she serves alongside her son, continuing a lifelong dedication to Ukraine. russia’s war against Ukraine isn’t her first brush with conflict—Tetiana’s story began decades ago.
In 1980, she volunteered as a nurse in Afghanistan, tending to the wounded amid the chaos of war. Years later, during Ukraine’s Revolution of Dignity in 2013, Tetiana was on the frontlines again, volunteering at the medical center in Kyiv’s October Palace.
By 2015, her path led her to Mariupol, where she joined the Azov Regiment’s medical center. She was there when russia launched its full-scale invasion. Though a civilian at the time, wearing a uniform marked her as a target. Following her commander’s orders, Tetiana and her comrades were captured.
Tetiana spent eight months in captivity. While she was spared physical torture, she endured the harrowing sounds of Ukrainian soldiers suffering nearby. Despite these horrors, her spirit remained unbroken.
After her release, a military medical evaluation deemed her fit for duty. In September 2023, Tetiana rejoined the army, now handling administrative tasks at the medical center. However, her resolve is unwavering—she intends to wear her uniform until Ukraine achieves victory.
Tetiana is available for interviews, both online and in person, with arrangements coordinated through her press officer.
