Themes by tag: women

For 56-year-old Khrystyna Dovhaliuk of Ternopil, the russia-Ukraine war began in 2014. Following russia’s annexation of Crimea and its assault on eastern Ukraine, Dovhaliuk started volunteering. She transported vehicles and humanitarian aid for the military from abroad, delivering supplies to the front lines. Dovhaliuk also became a blood donor, contributing 50 liters by age 17. One of her sons is currently defending Ukraine.

Even before russia’s full-scale invasion, Dovhaliuk had resolved to join the Armed Forces. This decision, set for 2024, recently moved forward when the Territorial Recruitment Center approved her for a military medical commission. Now, Dovhaliuk is refreshing her first aid knowledge and training physically to prepare for service.

For reference: Currently, in Ternopil, Khrystyna Dovhaliuk is available for interviews, both online and in person.

• volunteers
• women
• Ternopil

On June 18, the presentation of driver’s licenses to women who participated in the “Driving expands opportunities” course will take place in Kyiv.

Participants:

• Pavlo Zamostian, Assistant Representative at UNFPA;
• Maryna Khonda, Deputy Head of the Kyiv City State Administration responsible for exercising self-governing powers;
• Denys Darmostuk, Director of the Kyiv Regional Employment Center;
• Anastasiia Liadneva, Head of the Innovative Social Solutions NGO;
• Oleksandr Klyzhko, Head of the Kyiv Service Center of the Interior Ministry;

VONA career hub team.

In September 2023, VONA career and business hub launched “Driving expands opportunities” course. These are Ukraine’s first driving lessons for women who found themselves in difficult life circumstances. The main focus is to expand the professional competences of women, as well as to give them the opportunity to become even more mobile, independent and self-confident.

“Sisters of the Road” courses for women truck drivers will be announced at the event. The courses will be implemented with the support of logistics companies that are partners of VONA hub.

• women
• Kyiv

Liubov Kovalchuk’s husband, Dmytro, made the ultimate sacrifice in battle. A dedicated member of the Joint Forces Operation, Dmytro, a fearless airborne assault troop of the 95th Brigade, valiantly served in the Donetsk sector until his untimely demise on July 12, 2022. Despite the chaos of warfare, Dmytro managed to impart his farewell words to Liubov before departing, leaving behind their infant daughter, Ameliia, just six months old at the time.

In the depths of grief, Liubov turned to her passion for writing to navigate the harrowing aftermath of loss. Through poignant poetry and heartfelt memoirs, she channeled her anguish onto paper, culminating in a poignant manuscript aptly titled “To You, My Hero!”—a poignant tribute to her beloved warrior.

For Liubov, this literary endeavor serves as a poignant homage to Dmytro’s memory, offering solace amid the void left by his absence. Moreover, she envisions her book as a beacon of hope for fellow war widows, providing them with a source of solidarity and resilience in the face of profound loss.

Journalists seeking to delve deeper into Liubov’s poignant journey are invited to connect with her in Rivne by prior arrangement.

For reference: The Kovalchuk family receives support from the Children of Heroes charity fund, which extends a helping hand to children orphaned by the ravages of russia’s full-scale invasion. The foundation offers vital financial assistance, psychological and legal counsel, and fosters the educational and personal development of these resilient youngsters until they reach adulthood.

• children
• dead
• military
• women
• Rivne

Eight years ago, Lesia Mandur moved from Avdiivka, Donetsk region (the city has been occupied since February this year) to Irpin, Kyiv region. At the beginning of the full-scale war, she had to leave home again.

After the russian retreat from Kyiv region, Lesia returned to Irpin. And at the beginning of 2023, she founded a volunteer movement that makes energy bars for the military. Parishioners of one of the local churches (about 10 women) joined the initiative.

Volunteers make 44 kilograms of energy bars every week, which amounts to more than 500 bars. The ingredients include various nuts, cranberries, dates, dried apricots, dried plums and apples, raisins, sunflower seeds and honey.

This week, the volunteer movement faced difficulties – they could not work due to power outages. After all, a special device for grinding food is used in production, and it requires electricity. So now they are collecting fuel to start using a generator starting next week and continue working.

• volunteers
• women
• Kyiv

On June 7, Kyiv will host a panel discussion titled “Feminization and the Present: Trends, Issues, and the Role of Women in Ukraine’s Recovery” at the Media Center Ukraine – Ukrinform. The event will address the rapid feminization of the labor market, examining how this shift is impacting various sectors of Ukrainian society amid the ongoing conflict. Panelists will review current state policies and propose additional measures needed to support this transition.

Participants:

– Kateryna Levchenko, Government Commissioner for Gender Policy;

– Svitlana Voitsekhovska, co-founder of the Ukrainian Women’s Congress;

– Milena Goryachkovska, Ukrainian Women’s Fund, project coordinator;

– Yaryna Voloshyn, Head of Communications, Ukrainian Women-Lawyers Association “JurFem”;

– Oksana Hryhorieva, Gender Advisor to the Commander of the Land Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

For reference: Since the onset of the full-scale invasion, the number of women in Ukraine’s Armed Forces has surged by 40%. As of March 2024, over 47,000 women are serving, with more than 4,000 on the front lines, according to the General Staff. Additionally, the State Employment Service reports that in 2023, it helped 240,000 individuals secure new jobs, 66% of whom were women.

• women
• Kyiv

A women’s volunteer fire brigade emerged in Rivne Oblast at the onset of the full-blown invasion. Spearheaded by Alla Karpiuk, head of the Velyka Omeliana village community, the brigade sprang into action after Karpiuk’s firsthand experiences battling blazes, including three fire incidents involving homes and dry grass, when under coordination with firefighters, she helped save people’s property. 

Comprising 21 volunteers, the fire brigade boasts diverse backgrounds, with members ranging from deputies and accountants to saleswomen. Even a widow, grappling with the war’s toll, has joined the ranks.

Currently, the team is immersed in rigorous training provided by the State Emergency Service, honing skills in first aid, fire hose manipulation, fire extinguisher operation, and water management to earn their professional certifications. 

Journalists, upon arrangement, are welcome to engage with brigade members for firsthand insights, either in person or online.

• volunteers
• women
• Rivne

Anastasia Astafieva is one of the best tattoo artists and tattoo removal specialists in the capital. After the start of the full-scale invasion, Anastasia was approached by a military man who wanted to have his tattoo removed. There was gunpowder residue embedded into the skin of his face after an explosion. Anastasia tried to remove these specks with a laser, because her device can also be used for such tasks. The result became noticeable after the first session. And after a few procedures, Anastasia completely restored the soldier’s skin. He, in turn, told his brothers in arms about the tattoo artist. This is how the woman obtained her first clients with injuries from explosives. Nowadays, in addition to gunpowder residue Anastasia also removes pieces of soot and earth from people’s faces, as they also get under the skin during an explosion. Anastasia doesn’t charge military and civilians who have suffered as a result of the war.

• casualties
• volunteers
• women
• Kyiv

Kharkiv-based cheerleading team Nice Ladies was created back in 2016. It is also referred to as the most mature cheerleading team, because all the participants are over 50 years old. Women were even listed in the National Register of Records of Ukraine. At the beginning of the full-scale war, the team suspended training, which resumed in September 2022 (5 participants remain abroad).

Currently, there are 8 women in the team. The youngest is 53 years old, and the oldest is 77. The women train despite the shelling of their hometown and despite the power cuts. They also had to change their practice space to a safer one.

Nice Ladies became the champions of Kharkiv, Ukraine, and now they would like to prepare for the European Championship, however, the team, which consists mostly of the retired citizens, lacks funding for this.

Journalists have the opportunity to communicate with the Kharkiv team in person.

• culture
• women
• Kharkiv

Since the onset of the full-scale russian invasion, Olha Konoval has dedicated herself to volunteering. Initially, she focused on purchasing drones and thermal imagers for the Defense Forces. It was during her first trip to the East that Olha met her future husband, Serhii, the commander of the Steel Hundred company, known by his call sign Nord. What was intended to be a brief volunteer mission turned into a four-month stay with Serhii. To buy a thermal imager for him, Olha sold her car. Additionally, she began crafting jewelry from spent shell casings, using the proceeds to support the soldiers. Serhii soon embarked on a project to manufacture FPV drones, aiming to supply the military with high-quality equipment.

In January 2024, the couple married and soon after produced their first batch of drones.

Tragedy struck shortly after their wedding when Olha learned that Serhii had been killed during a combat mission in the Donetsk sector. Despite her profound loss, Olha continued their work, setting up a drone workshop and assembling a team of engineers. To date, they have produced 250 drones. She named her business NORD-DRON in honor of Serhii. Olha views this endeavor as her form of revenge against the enemy for the loss of Serhii and other fallen soldiers.

For reference: Currently, Olha Konoval is in Ternopil but plans to return to the East soon.

• dead
• military
• volunteers
• women

The “OnTrack” course by “Reskilling Ukraine” is a free course that gives women the opportunity to become a truck driver (with category C driver’s license). The course consists of theoretical and practical parts, as well as an exam.

The priority categories of women considered for this course are veterans and discharged soldiers, women from military families, as well as forcibly displaced persons. Future students must have category B driver’s license and previous driving experience (at least 3 years).

The “OnTrack” course started in February 2024. 38 Ukrainian women have already received category C driver’s licenses.

“Reskilling Ukraine” also launched the “BusDrive” training program, which focuses on training women to become passenger bus drivers (category D license). The first group has already been enrolled.

By prior agreement, journalists have the opportunity to talk with participants of both programs (“OnTrack” and “BusDrive”) and cover practical classes in Kyiv or Ternopil region. Also, media representatives have the opportunity to communicate with Sweden-based organizers of the program online.

For reference: “Reskilling Ukraine” is a project by the Swedish non-profit organization “Beredskapslyftet” working in the field of retraining and employment of women in Ukraine.

• women
• Kyiv
• Ternopil