Themes by tag: women
Daria Ulman is the wife of soldier Kirill Ulman, who was killed on February 15, 2024. At the start of the full-scale invasion, her husband joined the ranks of the Territorial Community Volunteer Unit in Dnipro, which was formed by veterans of the 12th Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine “Azov.” In December 2022, he joined the Third Separate Assault Brigade as part of an anti-tank battalion. Kirill was killed by a sniper’s bullet.
Daria says her husband was passionate about military affairs. After his death, she regretted not having started training alongside Kirill. Over the course of a year, Daria completed six courses and underwent two full training programs. She later founded her own community dedicated to military training for women. She named it Community Ulman in honor of her fallen loved one.
Over 80 women have already completed the training, and thanks to the project, 115,000 hryvnias were donated to Kirill’s comrades-in-arms.
Journalists will have the opportunity to cover the training on March 22.
Media can arrange interviews with Daria Ulman both online and in person in Kyiv by prior arrangement.
Hanna is the mother of two sons and the wife of a soldier who died in the war. Their family first lost their home back in 2014. Before that, the family lived in Olenivka in the Donetsk region. After hostilities began, the family left with their four-year-old child, leaving their home and all their belongings behind in the occupied territory. After several moves, they settled in the town of Bilozerske in the Ukraine-controlled part of Donetsk Oblast. They bought a home, her husband won a grant and started his own business, and the couple had a second son.
In 2022, due to the full-scale russian invasion, they were forced to leave everything behind once again. The family donated their home to the Ukrainian Armed Forces—Ukrainian soldiers lived there for a time.
In the summer of 2024, the husband joined the ranks of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. He completed training and served as an operator of a multiple launch rocket system. He was listed as missing in action as of October 23, 2024. Four months later, the family was informed that the DNA of a body repatriated during an exchange matched his samples. He was buried in March 2025.
After her husband’s death, the woman was left with her children in a new city without the support of relatives. The hardest part, she said, was telling her sons about their father’s death.
The family received psychological support from the “Children of Heroes” charitable foundation. The support of specialists became a crucial part of helping the children and their mother adapt to their new reality.
The family currently lives in Kyiv, renting an apartment. The older son spent almost his entire childhood moving from place to place, while the younger one was born during the war.
By prior arrangement, journalists can speak with the family online.
Serhiy Petrenko, a soldier with the pseudonym “Bashnya” — Natalia Petrenko’s son — died on the night of July 29, 2022. The soldier encountered a full-scale invasion in Mariupol, defended the city, then Azovstal, and before being taken prisoner on orders, he called his parents and told them to prepare his ammunition so that he could rejoin the army upon his return.
Serhiy Petrenko’s name was on one of the first lists of those killed during the russian terrorist attack in Olenivka. His mother, Natalia, decided not to shut herself away in her grief and to support Serhiy’s comrades. In memory of her son, she created the online platform “Basht,” which helps military personnel find their place in civilian life.
Natalia and her like-minded friends gathered useful information for veterans in one place: from medical, psychological, and legal assistance to courses and training.
Journalists can speak with Natalia Petrenko both online and in person in Kyiv, by prior arrangement.
Ahead of March 8, International Women’s Day, the VETERANKA Movement is launching a large-scale communication campaign called “Women Can Do Anything!”, which tells the real combat stories of four Ukrainian female soldiers in comic book format. The main mission of the campaign is to change society’s perception of the role of women in the Ukrainian Armed Forces and to highlight their impact on civilian safety.
As part of the project, throughout March and April, social advertising will be displayed in the capital’s metro, on billboards in Kyiv, and on screens in shopping malls.
The heroes of the campaign:
- Eva “Yunga” — FPV drone operator for the Rubizh brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine. Eva joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine at the age of 18 after graduating from school. During her first 1.5 years of service, she managed to destroy 250 enemy targets. Her superpower is to see in the dark and hit targets that pose a threat to our cities.
- Anya Tatu “Ksenia” — UAV operator of the 37th Marine Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Her story is one of unconditional love for life and Ukraine. A Polish woman with a Belgian passport who chose our country as her destiny. Despite living with a prosthesis, she chose the front line and earned the right to serve in the marines. Her superpower is her incredible accuracy and ability to be the first to spot threats in the night sky, saving thousands of lives.
- Oksana “Oksi” is the commander of the combat group of the special forces unit “OMEGA.” First, she wrote her will, evacuated her two children abroad, and then joined the army. A successful entrepreneur in civilian life, she turned her strategic talent into a weapon of the future in the military. Today, she is the first female commander of a group of robotic complexes in the special forces unit “OMEGA.”
- Yana “Multik” is the commander of the women’s platoon of the 141st Airborne Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. She is a symbol of resilience and sisterhood. Having survived the occupation of her native Kherson region and numerous injuries, Yana not only returned to the ranks, but also headed the first female unit of UAV operators. She is breaking down prejudices and building a new army where every woman is protected and heard.
The author of the visual part is Ukrainian illustrator Anna Ivanenko, known for her collaboration with The New Yorker, The Guardian, The Economist, Forbes, and other international media.
In addition, the communication campaign aims to close a large charity fundraiser for 6,000,000 hryvnia. The funds will be used to equip mobile air defense groups of the 37th Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and to purchase Heavy Shot bomber drones for the Rubizh Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine.
By prior arrangement, journalists will have the opportunity to talk to the heroines of the campaign, as well as representatives of the VETERANKA movement.
Maria Gvasalia has been volunteering since 2014. One of her latest projects is creating adaptive tableware for veterans and civilians to make it easier for them to eat and serve themselves after injuries.
The unique feature of adaptive plates is that they have fastening elements that make it easier for people with injuries or amputations to eat. To start manufacturing such tableware, Maria learned from Ukrainian craftsmen and consulted with specialists at medical centers that specialize in military rehabilitation.
It takes about two weeks to make one batch of plates. Currently, all products are already reserved, so Maria’s team is working on the next batch of plates. Volunteers deliver the tableware to rehabilitation centers free of charge.
Journalists can speak with Maria Gvasalia online or in person in Cherkasy by prior arrangement.
On March 8, the Center for Civil Liberties will join the Women’s Rights March in Kyiv.
“We stand up for women who are currently serving on the front lines and fighting alongside men. Female military personnel must be provided with everything necessary for service and safety, have equal access to positions and opportunities, and be protected from discrimination, sexual harassment, and violence.
We stand up for women—military and civilian—who are in russian captivity. For those who are tortured, raped, starved, kept in complete isolation—without communication, without information, without the right to a voice,” say representatives of the Women’s March.
Violence against women in this war is a weapon that russia deliberately uses to humiliate, intimidate, destroy human dignity, and silence.
That is why the Center for Civil Liberties is marching with the following demands:
- to take immediate and systematic action to return women from russian captivity;
- to increase international pressure on the aggressor state;
- to provide full support for those who have returned — psychological, medical, social, and legal.
Women should not disappear behind prison walls, in statistics, or in public silence. Our task is to talk about them and together demand justice.
A separate set of demands of the March concerns legislative changes. These are drafts of the new Civil Code, which contain provisions that could narrow women’s rights and contradict the principle of equality.
Nadiya Zharkikh is a coffee art teacher. She moved to Kherson with her family from Mykolaiv. This happened two months before the start of the full-scale russian invasion. Nadiya wanted to open a barista school in the city. The official opening was scheduled for February 26, 2022, but the war changed everything.
When Kherson was occupied by russia, Nadiya started working at her friend’s coffee shop and volunteered, in particular, preparing food. When threats from the occupiers began to pour in, she decided to flee. She had to pass through 70 checkpoints. From Zaporizhzhia, she went to Kyiv, where she started all over again. On August 7, 2023, on the anniversary of her departure from the occupation, she was able to open a coffee shop near Kyiv with the help of a state grant.
Today, the Navzayem coffee shop continues to operate and develop, despite all the challenges of full-scale war. As a result of the russian attack on September 28, 2025, the windows of the establishment were blown out. The coffee shop team supported the residents by treating the people who had suffered. They also provided a place to stay overnight. During power outages, the establishment operates with the help of a generator.
In general, Navzayem operates in several areas:
- as a coffee shop that supports the local community;
- as a barista school — teaching adults and children the art of coffee and the basics of entrepreneurship;
- as a social support space for IDPs, military families, children, and people in need;
- as a platform for master classes in the Kyiv region (including mobile ones), in cooperation with inclusive branches, schools, orphanages, and community initiatives.
On March 9, the coffee shop will host a master class called “Little Barista” for children with special educational needs.
In addition, Nadiya and her close circle have created a charitable foundation in Mykolaiv called “Welcome to Ukraine,” which supports military personnel and civilians. It currently operates throughout Ukraine. In particular, it helps with the reconstruction of damaged and destroyed housing.
By prior arrangement, journalists can talk to Nadiya in the Kyiv region.
For reference: On the night of September 28, 2025, russia launched a massive strike on the Kyiv region (three dozen victims) and Kyiv (four people were killed, including a child. More than 10 people were injured. One woman also died of stress in a shelter).
The russians occupied Kherson at the beginning of the full-scale invasion (March 1, 2022). The Armed Forces of Ukraine liberated the city from russian troops on November 11, 2022. The occupiers continue to shell the city regularly.
Eleven years ago, student Nina Tantsyura left for America. She first worked in a hotel, and then wherever she could find work — as a barista, a cleaner, and a cook in a pizzeria. Nina quickly realized that the “American dream” did not appeal to her and wanted to return home. But she met her future husband and stayed abroad.
The second time, Nina was prevented from returning home by the full-scale russian invasion. Finally, in the spring of 2025, she took her children and went to Kharkiv. Her husband remained in the United States.
It took Nina four days to reach her native home with her two children. A few weeks later, she bought a house in the Poltava region and is now fixing up her new home. Her husband supports the family financially, and Nina has created a social media account where she talks about her life in the village.
Journalists can arrange an interview with Nina Tantsyura either online or in person in the Poltava region, by prior arrangement.
Daria Ulman is the wife of soldier Kirill Ulman, who died on February 15, 2024. At the beginning of the full-scale invasion, her husband joined the ranks of the Volunteer Territorial Community Formation in Dnipro, which was created by veterans of the 12th Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine “Azov.” In December 2022, he joined the ranks of the Third Separate Assault Brigade as part of an anti-tank battalion. Kirill was killed by a sniper’s bullet.
Daria says that her husband was fascinated by military affairs. After his death, she regretted not having started training with Kirill. Within a year, Daria completed six courses and underwent two full training programs. She later created her own community that provides military training for women. She named it Community Ulman in honor of her deceased beloved.
To date, more than 80 women have completed the training, and thanks to the project, 115,000 hryvnias have been donated to Kirill’s comrades-in-arms.
Journalists will have the opportunity to cover the training.
Daria Ulman is available for interviews both online and in person in Kyiv, upon prior arrangement.
Valeriia Vershynina was born and raised in Donetsk. In 2014, when russia first attacked Ukraine and occupied her hometown, she and her family evacuated to Kyiv.
In the capital, Valeriia joined the Charitable Foundation “Stabilization Support Services”, which supports internally displaced persons. She worked in a group that developed legislation concerning IDPs. In 2024, Valeriia became the head of the foundation. Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the foundation has restored 1,964 facilities damaged by the war and provided legal and social assistance to more than 216,000 people.
In 2025, “Stabilization Support Services” faced challenges due to the suspension of funding from American donors. However, the team managed to secure support and continue its work. The foundation’s current priority is to find partners to support people affected by russia’s aggression. For example, over two years the team has completed 350 light repairs of homes damaged during hostilities in the Kherson and Mykolaiv regions.
Interviews with Valeriia Vershynina can be arranged online or offline in Kyiv by prior arrangement.
Background: The Charitable Foundation “Stabilization Support Services” is a Ukrainian charitable organisation that, since 2016, has been addressing the social consequences of war and providing comprehensive support to internally displaced persons. The foundation delivers humanitarian and legal assistance, repairs damaged housing, strengthens the social protection system and develops the network of IDP Councils established by the foundation in 2019–2020. The foundation operates nationwide, focusing on the recovery of affected communities and improving access to social services for the most vulnerable groups.
