The unwavering fight against Putin's attacks by Ukrainian women
GHRTV
07-03-2022
Idil Igdir
Women’s Rights Researcher,
Global Human Rights Defence.
On February 24, 2022, Russia waged a full-scale war from north to south, west to east of Ukraine, causing a nightmare in the country. While this illegal act led to the evacuation and displacement of the people of Ukraine to other EU countries, many citizens and including President Zelenskyy devoted themselves to protecting and defending their country against Putin's tanks and armies. United against the common enemy, many women of all professions and backgrounds began to join the army and support them as best they could.
Due to martial law, men between the ages of 18 and 60 are required to stay in Ukraine and fight against the Russian invasion, but on the other side, women also refused to back down and remain silent in the face of these horrific attacks. Moreover, the equal right to defend and fight for their country, therefore regardless of gender, has allowed women to make up today 15% of the armed forces, especially since 2014.
Thus, from deputies to former beauty queens, women showed initiative and ingenuity in various fields in this war to bolster the defense. Anastasia Lenna, a former Miss Grand Ukraine, expressed her love and support for her country by joining the fight and she later posted a photo of her holding a rifle to show the world that “Ukrainian women are strong, confident and powerful”.
Kira Rudik, Ukrainian Member of Parliament, also shared a photo of herself on February 25, 2022, and said “ I learn to use Kalashnikov and prepare to bear arms. It sounds surreal as just a few days ago it would never come to my mind. Our women will protect our soil the same way as our men. Go Ukraine! “
On March 1, 2022, a Ukrainian female soldier shared her optimism in a video that went viral, saying “I am still alive, the sun is shining, the birds are singing, everything will be fine. Long live Ukraine”.
Currently, according to the latest figures, 36,000 women are actively involved in the fight against Putin's attacks.
Sources and Further Reading :
Gulliver Cragg, (February 27, 2022) “Ukrainian women mobilise to help the war effort”, France24.
https://www.france24.com/en/video/20220227-ukrainian-women-mobilise-to-help-the-war-effort
Matthew Luxmooree, ( February 17, 2022) “If War With Russia Comes, Ukrainian Women Will Be on the Front Lines“, The Wall Street Journal.
Trends Desk, (March 1, 2022) “Everything will be fine: Ukrainian woman soldier’s video fills netizens with optimism”, The Indian Express.
(March 1, 2022) “He's going to war, I'm going too - women of Ukraine join fight against Russian invasion”, abc7.
https://abc7.com/ukraine-russia-invasion-war/11608894/
India Today Web Desk, (February 27, 2022) “From MPs to beauty queen, Ukrainian women take up arms against Russia”, India Today.
