Themes by tag: women

Before the full-scale Russian invasion, Anastasiia Strokach had never done any repairs, let alone roof repairs. However, she was always keen on restoring things. In April 2022, Anastasiia joined the Dobrobat volunteer building division. At first, she got down to clearing the debris in the Kyiv region but later realized there was a lack of people who could repair roofs. Then Anastasiia overcame her fear of heights and now works in a team that repairs roofs mercilessly shattered by Russian shelling. 

• reconstruction
• volunteers
• women

Kateryna Halushka is a volunteer and combat medic with the Hospitallers Medical Battalion. Even before the full-scale invasion, Kateryna underwent Hospitallers training and served at rotation method. After February 24, she rejoined the Hospitallers: from mid-March to mid-April 2022, she worked in the Kyiv region: Bucha, Hostomel, and Irpin. Then she went to the East to rescue the military in the Avdiivka sector. During the war, Kateryna lost her beloved: he and his unit were going to liberate Mariupol but were killed in action. Now Kateryna works in the Armed Forces as a communications officer.  She has now returned to Kyiv, and in a month, she will return to the East.

• doctors
• military
• women

The WOMAN AND WAR psychologists charity platform helps and supports women and children affected by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. In that regard, specialists have developed various group therapies: those for mothers, for women abroad, for women who lost a loved one during the war, for military wives, and teenagers.

In 15 months, the team has assisted nearly 7000 women and children.

Journalists can talk to the charity platform psychologist, as well as to participants who have applied for help by prior arrangement. 

• children
• psychological support
• volunteers
• women

Female Pilots School starts a new drone operators trainee onboarding. The girls will have a busy schedule: theory, basic skills training on simulators, and practice at a training ground in Kyiv Oblast.

Since the school’s inception, 50 students have already completed training on DJI and Autel so-called ‘civilian drones’ in particular. These are the drones that are now successfully operating at the front. Classes are taught by instructors who combine pilot training with work in the combat zone.

• women

Mariia Smirnova, 24, joined the military in the summer of 2022 and choose the Da Vinci Wolves battalion to serve. Without hiding her sexual orientation, a girl she did not experience any harassment or prejudice from her fellow soldiers though. Serving as a clerk at the Da Vinci Wolves battalion, Mariia then decided that she wanted to be useful directly on the front line, so she transferred to the airborne assault troops. Now she is undergoing training in Zhytomyr region.

• military
• women
• LGBT

On June 24, within the XI Book Arsenal, journalists will have a chance to hear the story of the women held captive by Russians (WOMEN’S VOICES).

Participants of the event:

– Mariana Mamonova, a military medic from Lviv, who was captured pregnant while leaving Mariupol and held prisoner for six months;

– Viktoriia Andrusha, a teacher from the Chernihiv region who was abducted by the occupiers from her parent’s house and held in captivity for six months;

– Lyudmila Huseynova, a human rights activist from the Donetsk region who was arrested in 2019 and held in prison for three years.

Journalists can be assisted in organizing professional comments on this topic or an interview with one of the event participants.

• prisoners
• women

Paramedic Liudmyla, call sign “Ariyka,” has been rescuing the wounded since 2014. During russia’s full-scale invasion, the woman left her job at a publishing house and started rescuing people at the front, including in the hottest spots. Liudmyla rescues people as part of the volunteer medical battalion “Hospitallers.”

• casualties
• doctors
• women

Kateryna Semenyuk from Lutsk became a volunteer and military chaplain after russia’s full-scale invasion. At first, Kateryna helped to collect aid for Ukrainians from abroad, then she began making trips to the de-occupied territories. And now she regularly visits the frontline. With her husband Serhii, Kateryna is raising five children, the youngest son, Luka, was born on February 24, 2022, the day when russia began its full-scale invasion.

For reference: Military chaplains are priests who combine their ecclesiastical rank with other activities. A chaplain can be a citizen of Ukraine with a higher theological education who is a part of clergy of a church or religious organization registered in Ukraine. They must also obtain a mandate from their own church for the right to perform chaplaincy.

• religion
• women

On May 16, Media Center Ukraine — Ukrinform will host a briefing entitled “A year of leaving Azovstal steelworks: cry out, as it’s impossible to be silent” by representatives of Women of Steel NGO.

In May, it will be one year since Azovstal steelworks defenders left the plant’s territory after 86 days of unprecedented defense in the tripled enemy encirclement. Back then, the whole world admired the strength of the spirit of Azovstal defenders. However, neither the fighters nor their families could have imagined that following the evacuation from the drop point of five-ton aerial bombs, they would be sent to torture chambers for an indefinite period of time.

Participants of the briefing:

– Nataliia Zarytska, Chair of the “Women of Steel” Council of Wives and Mothers of Ukraine’s Defenders,” wife of a released from captivity soldier of the Azov Regiment;

– Nataliia Kravtsova, mother of a captured Azovstal defender;

– Nelya Shastun, mother of Azov battalion soldiers, whose one son was killed and the other was held in captivity;

– Anastasiia Mikhilova, who was held for two months in an Azovstal bunker with her four-year-old son;

– Sofiia Cherepanova, sister of a captured Azovstal defender.

Media accreditation required.

• military
• prisoners
• women
• Kyiv

On May 13, a meeting with Valeriia Subotina (call sign “Nava”) will take place in Kyiv. The woman spent 327 days in russian captivity. While still under siege at the Azovstal plant, she married a border guard, Andrii Subotin, on May 5 (the birthday of the Azov regiment). The man even made engagement rings for them out of foil. However, he died shortly after, on May 7.

Attendees will have an opportunity to listen to Valeriia’s poems from the poetry collection “Flowers and Weapons,” which was republished due to Andrii Subotin’s parents’ efforts while the woman was in captivity. After the event, Valeria will talk to the media representatives. Considering her physical and psychological exhaustion, the organizers kindly ask to limit the number of questions, but there will be an opportunity to arrange further interviews.

• military
• prisoners
• women
• Kyiv