Themes by tag: women

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 Their eldest son, who was six at the time, became withdrawn, he often cried remembering his father, grandmother and grandfather.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

21-year-old Mariia is from the temporarily occupied town of Lysychansk, Luhansk oblast. In 2020, she enrolled in the National Guard Academy in Kharkiv. In 2022, when the full-scale war began, her parents evacuated to Dnipro. Mariia’s mother, Olha, had worked in the maternity ward of a hospital in Lysychansk for over 20 years. In Dnipro, Olha found work as a nurse in a private clinic, but soon saw an advertisement calling for people to join the military.

Mariia advised her mother to join the 13th Khartiia Brigade of the National Guard. After graduating from the academy, Mariia joined her mother in the military.  Today, Olha is a junior sergeant and a nurse in a mobile dental clinic, while Mariia serves as an officer in the personnel department of the Khartiia Brigade.

At home, they are supported by Mariia’s father, who served in the State Emergency Service for over 30 years and is now retired. Mariia also has an older brother who serves as a combat medic in the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

You can communicate with Mariia and Olha, either online or in person, by prior arrangement.

• military
• women

For 16 years, Nataliia and Maksym Shyshkin built their life together. Maksym worked in transportation across Ukraine, and when the full-scale invasion began, it found him on the road. In the early hours of February 24, 2022, he was driving home from Odesa. By the next day, he had already reported to the military registration office. His words to Nataliia were resolute: “I have two sons growing up. I have to defend our land so the occupiers don’t come here.”

Maksym served as a combat medic. Initially, he joined the Border Guard Service of Ukraine before being assigned to the 15th Mobile Border Guard Detachment. He defended the Chernihiv region, later Donetsk, and braved numerous conflict zones.

During one of his missions, Maksym came under heavy artillery fire and suffered a critical injury to his temple. His comrades, risking their own lives, evacuated him and transported him to a hospital in Dnipro. Maksym slipped into a coma, and Nataliia stayed by his side for days. In a moment filled with both hope and heartbreak, Nataliia’s father-in-law brought their eldest son, Tymofii, to the hospital. The boy walked into the ward, took his father’s hand, and softly said, “Hi, Dad, I’m next to you.” The machines monitoring Maksym’s vitals suddenly sounded alarms as his heart gave out. That was his final moment.

The loss of her husband plunged Nataliia into deep grief. But one day, Tymofii approached her, wrapped his arms around her, and said something that changed everything: “Mom, you should dress nicely, put on some makeup, do your hair, and take a walk with me. You are the best one here. Dad is proud of you. He chose a great mom for us.” The unwavering love of her sons, coupled with her dedication to her work, helped her reclaim her life. Nataliia, a passionate cosmetologist, found solace in her profession, which became a source of strength during the darkest days.

Nataliia and her sons are now supported by the Children of Heroes charity foundation. This organization aids children who have lost one or both parents due to Russia’s full-scale invasion. It provides financial assistance, psychological and legal support, and ensures the children’s education and development until they reach adulthood.

• dead
• military
• women
• Vinnytsia

Yuliia Buniak, originally from Crimea, has called Kyiv home since her university days. Now a widow raising her 14-year-old son, Tymofii, she is navigating life after her husband was killed in action on August 3, 2023, while serving on the frontlines.  

For Yuliia, the russian-Ukrainian conflict began in 2014 with the annexation of her homeland. Her husband joined the military shortly after the invasion, fought for over a year, and then returned to civilian life. But the full-scale russian assault in February 2022 marked a turning point. On the evening of February 23, as the couple shared a quiet moment at home, a call from the territorial recruitment office changed their lives. Her husband reported for duty the next morning, initially serving in Kyiv before being deployed to the eastern front. As a mortar operator, he carried out missions near Bakhmut, one of the most fiercely contested areas of the war. After completing his first rotation in December 2022, he returned home briefly, allowing the family to celebrate the New Year together. But during his second deployment, tragedy struck. On August 3, 2023, he was killed during an artillery strike near Pivnichnyi, in Donetsk’s Bakhmut district.  

Yuliia reflects on the close bond her husband shared with Tymofii. From teaching him to drive to bonding over their shared love of boxing, their relationship was filled with cherished moments. Last year, Tymofii had the chance to meet his idol, Oleksandr Usyk, and even attended his fight in Riyadh with his mother.  

For reference: The Children of Heroes Foundation is now providing essential support to Yuliia and Tymofii. The organization, dedicated to aiding children who have lost one or both parents due to russia’s invasion, offers financial assistance, psychological counseling, legal aid, and educational resources to help them thrive despite their loss.

• dead
• military
• women
• Kyiv

Tetiana Hatsura-Yavorska, a citizen of Belarus, has been a human rights activist since 2006. Later she founded the human rights organization “Zvyano”. After the Belarusian protests in 2020, a criminal case was opened against Tetiana for her activism, which displeased the Belarusian authorities. She was arrested and threatened that her child would be sent to an orphanage. Her husband took the child and fled the country. After spending 10 days in a detention center, Tetiana was released but banned from leaving Belarus.

After russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Tetiana decided to leave Minsk illegally. Upon arriving in Kyiv, she immediately began volunteering and raising funds to purchase vacuum therapy devices for hospitals. During two years of war, she raised more than 100,000 euros for these devices. She later founded the “Lanka” rehabilitation center for wounded soldiers.

At “Lanka”, soldiers recover from injuries to their arms, legs and spine, and can also receive treatment for gastrointestinal and neurological problems. Since its inception, the center has rehabilitated 60 soldiers, including international volunteers.

You can contact Tetiana Hatsura-Yavorska online or in person in Kyiv by prior arrangement. 

• casualties
• military
• women
• Kyiv

Dina Chmuzh witnessed the beginning of the full-scale invasion in her hometown of Kharkiv. Her father joined the Defense Forces, and Dina and her mother initially refused to leave the city. They eventually evacuated in March 2022, but returned to Kharkiv a few months later.

Since then, the artist has been writing poetry on the plywood used to replace windows and storefronts shattered by explosions. Dina has created about 20 murals with poems by Ukrainian poets. In the future, she hopes to incorporate verses by Lyubov Yakymchuk, Bohdan Kutsenko, and Yaryna Chornoguz into her murals.

You can contact Dina Chmuzh online or by appointment in Kharkiv.

• culture
• women
• Kharkiv

Ukraine has launched its first-ever all-women mobile air defense units, known as the “Bucha Witches,” in the Kyiv region’s Bucha community. Formed entirely by volunteers, the units operate as part of the Bucha Territorial Community’s military volunteer force.

The group unites women from varied backgrounds—spanning different ages, professions, and education levels—who juggle civilian responsibilities with combat duties, serving every three days. According to the formation’s headquarters, their mission includes defending Bucha and occasionally the neighboring Hostomel community. The units primarily intercept enemy drones and missiles, with additional counter-sabotage operations as needed.

This version retains all essential details but is slightly more concise and adheres to professional reporting standards.

• military
• women
• Kyiv

Maryna Zhdan is a 44-year-old Lviv resident and mother of four. Before the beginning of the full-scale war, Maryna was an avid traveler, running her own travel blog and visiting 40 countries. But she says her favorite place is in Ukraine: the village of Stuzhytsia in Zakarpattia, home to a 1,300-year-old oak tree. The majestic tree made a deep impression on her, as she has loved plants since childhood. When Maryna moved into her own home, she began transforming her surroundings into a lush indoor jungle.

In 2022, Maryna decided to sell her plants to raise money for the Ukrainian Armed Forces. She created a social media page called “Khatni Khashchi” (“Home Jungle”). Through her efforts, she managed to raise 380,000 UAH to support the Ukrainian Army.

Later, Maryna and her daughter began to set up a place they named “MAZANKA Space”. Once renovations are complete, it will serve as a potted plant shop and her daughter will offer tattoo services.

You can contact Maryna Zhdan either online or in person in Lviv by appointment.

• military
• women
• Lviv