On Wednesday, an impactful conference Female Frontlines: Ukrainian women transforming the society, took place in Copenhagen. It was a remarkable meeting with very inspiring and dedicated Ukrainian women who are taking giant steps to bring their society into a victorious democratic future, to heal and recover.
The evening was opened by a speech from the incredible Yuliia Paievska, also known as “Taira”(Julia Paevska), Ukrainian paramedic and veteran. Yuliia touched our hearts with her personal story and reflections on her service in the blockaded Mariupol and her days in russian captivity. She said, “One of the important lessons I learned in a russian torture chamber is that life without freedom is worth nothing. I felt so lonely, as if I were suffering for the whole world. Thanks to the support of the Ukrainian people and the international community, I was released. I discovered that the world has united to support Ukraine, and we are not alone. That was an immensely powerful feeling.” Taira emphasized how important it is to stay united today: “Russia counts on that we get into disagreements and distantiate from each other, then they will come after each of us individually – country after country”.
Louise Stougaard Gæde, a veteran and board member of Kvindelige Veteraner, reflected on the challenges female soldiers face and praised the honour of serving one’s country. She mentioned, “A basic soldier is a man, and the memory of female soldiers has been overshadowed. Being a female soldier means continuing that forgotten legacy.” Louise raised the crucial issue of suitable uniforms and body armor for women and remarked that Ukrainian women show essential lessons for all of us.
Olha Rudnieva (Olga Rudneva), venture philanthropist from Ukraine, shared her journey of establishing the Superhumans Center, a facility focused on the rehabilitation of civilian and military war victims who lost limbs. “When it all started, I just googled “prostheses,” unaware of this field”. However, after less than 2 years of work and numerous patients, the center is changing the very service of rehabilitation with the goal of discharging the patients in a better condition than they were before the trauma. “It is an honour to hear appreciation from the wounded soldiers who arrive at our modern facilities saying, “This is Ukraine we are fighting for,” shared Olha.
Tetiana Kostina (Tania Kos), publisher and author of the book on women’s stories during this war, spoke about the power of storytelling in capturing women’s bravery. “On February 24, we understood how much Ukrainian women can do and how loud our voices are. Every story gave me the power to keep going and believe.” Tetiana explained how complicated yet impactful the printing of Ukrainian books is today. She mentioned the damage of the recent strike on the Kharkiv printing house right before the biggest book forum in Ukraine, where 7 coworkers got killed, and 50,000 books were burnt, underscoring its nature as an attack on culture and national memory.
Robin May Schott, Doctor of Philosophy, author, and Senior Researcher at the Danish Institute for International Studies, brought much-needed attention to the long-term effects of war on society. “You have to prepare for the war after the war. Traumas will impact families for generations”. She added that at the same time, war creates something new, shaping new values and identities. Dr. Schott urged us to focus on the transformative power of this experience.
The conference was a powerful reminder of Ukraine’s unique resilience and the high price paid for Europe’s security. As support of Ukraine must continue, we should pay attention to its voices and stories, ensuring that the efforts and sacrifices of Ukrainians are recognized and remembered.
Many thanks to everyone who participated in and contributed to this event – brilliant moderators Michael Jarlner and Lesia Ignatyk-Eriksen, valued partners Hjælp Ukrainske Børn, WomenforUkraine, and The European-Ukrainian Hub, as well as the numerous dedicated volunteers.