Themes by tag: women

Liudmyla is 77 years old, a trained anesthetist and resuscitator. When russia launched its full-scale invasion, she stepped in to help treat wounded civilians in occupied Hostomel, Kyiv oblast (two people had shrapnel wounds). With no medical instruments available at the local clinic, she had to sew up wounds with an ordinary sewing needle and thread.

Today, Liudmyla continues to support Ukraine’s defense by weaving camouflage nets with a group of local women volunteers known as “Chervona Kalyna”. She dedicates herself to volunteering almost every day.

Journalists can speak with Liudmyla in the Kyiv oblast.

Background: February 24, 2025 will mark the third anniversary of russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

• casualties
• occupation
• volunteers
• women
• Kyiv

For the past 15 years, Tetiana Hrek has dedicated herself to teaching karate to children and adults. Before the all-out invasion, she and her husband owned a gym in Bucha, a town in the Kyiv region. But when the war broke out, their lives took a dramatic turn. The family found themselves under occupation, their gym looted by russian forces, and their home shot at. After enduring two weeks of occupation, Tetiana and her family managed to escape to Ukrainian-controlled territory.

A year later, Tetiana decided to return to Bucha. In the interim, other coaches who had remained in the city had restored the gym and resumed teaching local children. Upon her return, Tetiana was welcomed back by eager students. A public martial arts school in Bucha also reopened its doors, inviting her to teach there.

Today, Tetiana offers lessons both online and offline, available by appointment.

• occupation
• reconstruction
• russian crimes
• women
• Kyiv

Before russia’s full-scale invasion outbreak, 58-year-old Halyna Hlobchasta was a math and physics teacher and served as the village elder of the Krasnorichenske community in Luhansk Oblast. But her life changed dramatically in late February 2022, when russian forces occupied her village, Makiivka.

On March 12, Halyna was abducted. Her captors took her to a local school and demanded to know where she had hidden weapons. When she refused, they beat her and subjected her to electric shocks. Eventually, she was released—but only under the condition that she would gather intelligence on her fellow villagers and report back to the occupiers.

The next day, Halyna and her husband made the difficult decision to flee, leaving behind everything, including money and documents. They managed to reach Dnipro, while her blind mother remained in the occupied territory until a neighbor later helped her escape to Kharkiv.

Now living in Lviv, Halyna has undergone extensive rehabilitation after enduring torture and displacement. Despite everything, she remains hopeful that one day she will return to her home village.

Those wishing to speak with Halyna can arrange a meeting with her in person or online.

• casualties
• occupation
• russian crimes
• women
• Lviv

Kharkiv-based artist Valentyna Huk, 21, transforms fragments of shattered glass into intricate mosaics, giving new life to the debris left behind by russian airstrikes.

Valentyna works with acrylics, pastels, and, most notably, black watercolor pencil—a medium she describes as offering “no room for mistakes.”

Her first mosaic took shape after an attack damaged the balcony of her apartment, leaving it strewn with broken glass. She gathered the shards and turned them into art. Since then, she has been collecting glass fragments from the aftermath of airstrikes across Kharkiv, using only what she finds on-site. Each finished piece is placed in or near the area where the glass was originally scattered.

Those interested in speaking with Valentyna Huk can arrange a meeting with her in Kharkiv or connect online.

• culture
• russian crimes
• women
• Kharkiv

Kateryna Shkumat once worked as a tester and technical support specialist, but a chance discovery set her on an entirely new path. She first learned about Reskilling Ukraine, a Swedish initiative that trains women to operate vehicles in the C, D, and CE categories, by accident. Noticing how many men are currently defending Ukraine, Kateryna recognized that she too could contribute. The idea of becoming a lorry driver came to her spontaneously, but the more she thought about it, the more it made sense. 

Her family, including her parents and grandparents, fully supported her decision to switch careers. Now, Kateryna is already on the road, working as a truck driver. She also has ambitions to try her hand at driving a bus.

Journalists can arrange to speak with Kateryna in Kyiv by appointment.

• women
• Kyiv

Anastasiia Buhera was with her parents in Izium, Kharkiv oblast, when russia launched its full-scale invasion. She had come home for the holidays as she was studying at a university in Kharkiv at the time.

During the occupation, she witnessed firsthand the devastation russian forces inflicted on the captured city. She counted how many bombs were dropped on Izium every hour and understood the extreme danger of even going out to buy bread, knowing that each trip could be her last.

Anastasiia managed to escape the occupation after five months. When she returned to Ukrainian-controlled territory, she learned that her boyfriend, Kostiantyn, who had been in Mariupol defending Azovstal in February 2022, had been captured by the enemy.

The last time Anastasiia spoke to him was on April 24, 2022 – he sent her photos and videos and promised to return home. Now she waits for Kostiantyn and does everything she can to make sure the world does not forget those still held in russian captivity.

Anastasiia Buhera is available for interviews in the Kharkiv oblast, both online and in person, by prior arrangement.

• military
• occupation
• prisoners
• russian crimes
• women
• Kharkiv

A group of female beekeepers in Poltava Oblast has been running the Own to Own agricultural operative since 2020, producing up to five tons of honey annually and crafting their own honey-based products.

The cooperative was founded by Tetiana Senchuk, a third-generation beekeeper. She says finding like-minded women wasn’t difficult, as Poltava hosted the Ms. Bee Forum in 2016, where she connected with others interested in forming a cooperative.

The full-scale invasion nearly forced the group to disband, with many beekeepers relocating to other cities or even leaving the country. But in 2023, the members reunited and decided to keep going. Their efforts were bolstered by support from the WeProsper project, which helped them purchase and repair essential equipment.

Today, the cooperative consists of seven women and one man. Depending on the season, they harvest between three and five tons of honey. One of their signature products is cream honey, known for its smooth texture while preserving all the natural benefits of raw honey.

Those interested in connecting with Tetiana Senchuk and the cooperative can do so both online and in person by appointment.

• culture
• women
• Poltava

Liudmyla and Ihor lived in the Lviv oblast and raised two sons. When the full-scale invasion began, Ihor did not hesitate to join the Ukrainian Armed Forces, even though he had no previous military experience.

A month after Ihor went to war, his father died. A few months later, Liudmyla’s uncle also died, and just three weeks after that, she suffered another devastating loss — her mother died of cancer.

Ihor served in the 80th Separate Air Assault Brigade of Galicia, where he carried out duties as both a soldier and a medic. His unit participated in the liberation of Kherson and Mykolaiv oblasts, as well as in intense battles near Kreminna and Bakhmut. In one of these battles Ihor was killed.

The loss of their father was very hard for the children. Their eldest son, who was six at the time, became withdrawn, he often cried remembering his father, grandmother and grandfather. There were moments when he lost interest in life altogether, answering every question with “I don’t care” or “I want to go to daddy in heaven”.

For Liudmyla, this was the time of her greatest trial. In March 2024, the family suffered another loss: her stepfather, who had been a wonderful grandfather to the children, died. It felt as if she had no strength left. But eventually Liudmyla realized an essential truth: in order to give to others, you must first restore yourself.

She turned to psychologists, doctors, and to God. Thanks to various charitable foundations and NGOs, the family attended psychological and spiritual camps and retreats. This helped Liudmyla and her children to return to life.

Background: The charitable foundation Children of Heroes is currently assisting Liudmyla’s family. The foundation assists children who have lost one or both parents to the full-scale russian invasion. It provides financial assistance, psychological and legal support, and helps with education and personal development until the children reach adulthood.

• dead
• military
• women
• Lviv

Liudmyla Lystopad is 41 years old and an economist by profession. She and her husband run a small family business in the Poltava oblast. She also has 20 years of driving experience. In the midst of the full-scale invasion, in 2023, Liudmyla enrolled in a driving school to obtain a category D license. She passed her practical bus driving test on the first try – unlike most of the men in her group.

Later, she came across an online job posting from an intercity and international passenger transportation company looking for female bus drivers. After a two-week internship, she was hired. Now she drives routes from Poltava to Kharkiv and Kyiv, operating a 50-passenger bus.

Reactions to a woman behind the wheel of a passenger bus vary. Truck drivers often wave and give her a thumbs up. Some passengers are initially wary of “a woman driver — especially a blonde behind the wheel,” but by the end of the trip they often express their gratitude.

Journalists can speak with Liudmyla online or in person in Kyiv by prior arrangement.

• women
• Kyiv

The war separated Illia and Alina, border guards in Mariupol, in the spring of 2022. Both were captured by the enemy and had no information about each other. Illia even feared that his beloved might no longer be alive.

After five months in captivity, Alina was released in October 2022 and has been waiting for Illia’s return ever since. For almost two years, there was no news of him. But on January 3, 2024, the phone rang, and within seconds she heard the familiar voice say the long-awaited words: “It’s me…” Illia returned home, and the couple had recently been married.

• military
• prisoners
• women