News
The VETERANKA Movement, with the support of the British Embassy in Ukraine, presents a new educational series on the Diia.Education platform – "Gender-Sensitive and Non-Discriminatory Communication in the Armed Forces of Ukraine."
This is a practical course focused on mutual respect, trust, effective communication, and understanding one’s rights within the military environment. Over the course of 14 episodes, experts explore how to build strong team dynamics, maintain morale, de-escalate conflict, and protect oneself in difficult situations — regardless of rank, experience, or[...]
01.05.2025
The Marie Claire Business team spent a day with Hanna Suvorkina, a clothing designer at the ByVTRNK sewing workshop. We invite you to take a behind-the-scenes look at the workshop.
Officially, women’s military uniforms only became available in Ukraine in 2023.Before that, a national standard existed for ceremonial military attire, which required female service members to wear heels, skirts, and a formal jacket.
As Lyudmyla Darahan, Secretary of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, stated at the International Seminar on Gender-Responsive and Inclusive Public Service:
“Over the[...]
07.10.2024
We launched the Plan B Power Center project, initiated by Tetiana Borys, a member of the Veteranka movement, who lost her husband, a soldier at the 58th Motorised Brigade in February 2023.
This project is a set of approaches and measures to study the experience of getting through bereavement in the context of the Russian-Ukrainian war.
Its mission is to study the experience of getting through bereavement for conceptual changes in the approach to working with the families of fallen soldiers at all levels of government - local authorities, social and legal support. As a result, family[...]
12.07.2024
On January 3, 2024, we launched our first Veteranka Movement podcast about female military personnel in combat positions.
Our podcast is being listened to throughout the country on all popular audio platforms, including Ukrainian ones - NV podcasts and Megogo.
We are in the Apple Podcasts top 40 chart (for the society and culture shows category) and in the top 10 podcast recommendations.
3 thousand users listened to the podcast during the first 2 weeks. About half a million listeners heard the podcast on the radio Bayraktar, and 20 mentions were made in the mass media of[...]
20.03.2024
Alisa Shramko, known by her call sign "Dolya," serves as a medical instructor in the Fastiv Territorial Defense Force (Volunteer Formation of the Territorial Community in the Kyiv region), a sub-instructor in the Volunteer Medical Battalion "Hospitaliers," and is a member of the Veteranka Movement. In her civilian profession, she is a social pedagogue and works as a senior staff member in the department of intangible cultural heritage at a museum. Additionally, she is a mother of two children.I found myself in the army entirely by chance. In 2018, I was looking for pre-medical aid courses,[...]
17.03.2024
Emotional rollercoasters, driven by news from the frontlines, constant air raid alerts, and a sense of lack of control, have become the reality for most inhabitants of our country. Both military personnel and civilians experience a wide spectrum of feelings. During the execution of their duties, when they must constantly remain focused and prepared for any trials, supporting comrades and close circles becomes particularly crucial.
We wake up in the morning ready to conquer mountains, but by midday, we're overwhelmed.
Yes, these are emotional rollercoasters, and almost everyone has[...]
05.11.2023
Continuing to address the challenging and rarely discussed topic of captivity, our military psychologist, Kateryna "Melnik's Daughter," has gathered recommendations from former hostages and experts on how to conduct oneself in extremely difficult conditions and survive.
1) Restore and maintain self-control. Try to overcome panic reactions after being captured as quickly as possible. To manage this, engage your body's physical resources: for a short period, allow yourself to tremble as much as you can (if it's safe); tap yourself on the thighs or shins to feel your body; press your heels[...]
31.08.2023
According to the accounts of defenders themselves, the worst consequence of combat for a soldier is captivity. As of the end of June 2023, the National Information Bureau reports that 126 women are held in Russian captivity. Among them are 46 military personnel and 80 civilians. In certain situations, falling into the hands of the enemy is considered worse than death. The adversary seeks to obtain the maximum amount of operational information, often disregarding the concept of "human rights" and resorting to torture. Those who conduct interrogations use all available means to extract[...]
13.08.2023
Ukrainian society has not fully adapted to the fact that war has made significant changes in our lives. Often, war injuries are not visible externally: one doesn't necessarily need to be in a wheelchair, have an amputation, or possess disability documents, yet they may grapple with serious health impairments. They might leisurely stroll through the park beside you or enjoy a favorite drink in a nearby café, and you may not notice the silent battle they face with relentless pain every day. Sometimes, these "hidden" injuries like PTSD, post-concussion syndrome, blast injury (or shell shock),[...]
30.07.2023
Friends, we love to report when we have good news. Thanks to Kryzhanivskyi's "Flowers of War" photo exhibition and a charity stand-up, the support of our partners Peremoga, Ukrainian Witness and benefactors, we closed the collection of UAH 350,000 for Ukrainian medics.
Huge thanks to everyone who joined, supported and participated in these events.
A large collection for paramedics and a charity exhibition continue. Soon the photos will be available in different parts of Ukraine. Stay tuned for[...]
19.07.2023