Themes by tag: 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

On April 10, during the exchange of prisoners, Valeriia Subotina, call sign “Nava,” Spokeswoman for the “Azov” regiment, returned to Ukraine. The woman was captured on May 16, 2022, during the withdrawal of the Ukrainian military from Azovstal.

Her love story went viral in Ukraine and the world. While still under siege at the Azovstal plant, she married a border guard, Andrii Subotin, on May 5 (the birthday of the Azov regiment). He even made engagement rings for them out of foil. However, he died shortly after, on May 7.

• military
• prisoners
• women

Zemliachky (Countrywomen) NGO together with Viddani project brought together 15 Ukrainian companies to create “dream weddings” for women who defend Ukraine. In particular, a jewelry brand, a lingerie store, a flower salon, hotels and restaurants joined the initiative. Their efforts came to fruition and the first wedding for a Ukrainian military woman was held on April 21. The idea for the project appeared after volunteers began to receive requests from the front line for a wedding wreath or an embroidered dress for a wedding at the front.

For reference: Zemliachky NGO helps military women, in particular, with women’s military uniforms. They also provide psychological assistance.

• military
• women

VETERANKA Women’s Veteran Movement members, together with the ICF Victory Park representatives and the Kyiv Municipal Association Kyivzelenbud workers, planted magnolias in Maria Zankovetska Park in the capital.  

There are signs with a QR code to find near each tree. It redirects to raise funds to purchase army summer boots for women in the military. These are paramedics, aerial reconnaissance, machine gunners, and assault troops who spend more than 17 hours a day in the trenches, on combat positions in extreme terrain. You can also join the charity project online.

• military
• women
• Kyiv

Rescuer Nika is the first woman to master the profession of a dog handler sapper in the ranks of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine. Her partner is a German Shepherd named Hosha, who can search for explosives outside as well as inside cars and rooms. Hosha isn’t new to this service. The dog has been helping sappers demine territories liberated from the occupiers.

• women

Lviv Defense Cluster manufactures light body armor and hands them over to the women in the military. Instead of the standard 20 kilograms, the body armor made by Lviv Defense Cluster weighs only 7-8 kilograms. Recently, female border guards serving in Kharkiv region received such bulletproof vests.

In addition, children’s protective kits featuring helmets and bulletproof vests, which are manufactured by Lviv Defense Cluster, are also in active use on the frontlines. For example, in Donetsk region, every crew of “White Angel” — local police officers who help to evacuate people — have children’s helmets and bulletproof vests made by Lviv Defense Cluster.

For reference: Lviv Defense Cluster unites specialists of defense enterprises, volunteers and production facilities from all over the country to provide the Defenders of Ukraine with high-quality and well tested body armor. The Cluster has its own laboratory for testing finished products.

• children
• military
• women

12 mothers and 27 children currently live in Lviv-based Mother and Child Center “Unbreakable Mothers.” (There are mothers from Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhia, Mykolaiv and Kharkiv regions).

This modern facility was created last summer with the support of the Red Cross. The center is designed for more than a hundred people. Pregnant women and women with newborn children who left their homes fleeing the war can find shelter there. Comfortable living conditions have been created for these women. They can also obtain various social services.

• casualties
• women
• Lviv