How Women's Veteran Movement works in Ukraine

Ukrainian women veterans have turned into reality what seemed like distant dreams before February 24, 2022. Among their projects is a workshop for sewing women's military uniforms, which has been operating for two and a half years.  The uniforms provided by the state to the defenders of Ukraine are often unsuitable for women in the military, the veterans admit.

 So at first, the shop sewed in clothes, and now they sew their own. The uniforms are designed according to original patterns, taking into account different working conditions at the front and the season. The company has produced and distributed at least 1,200 pieces of clothing free of charge.  However, Hanna, a seamstress and designer at the workshop, says that they can actually make more uniforms. The only thing that limits the process is money.

‘In this case, this jacket is demi-seasonal. The winter one looks the same, but it's lined with wool and wool-ponte, materials that keep the cold out. It is airtight and waterproof. If you're smeared all over after work and you don't have access to water, cleaning your clothes and walking around in dried blood is also a story - not very pleasant... These are winter trousers, they are also made of fleece, they have a high waist and can be adjusted... this will help to reduce the waist,’ says Anna, a seamstress and designer at the Veteran's workshop.

Then the uniforms are packed and sent to the defenders.  The volunteer hub receives various requests from the military. At the beginning of the full-scale invasion, it was a big challenge to provide the Movement's members with body armour, helmets and tactical medicine. Later, the list of needs expanded to include thermal imagers, cars, and drones.

‘Girls really need ammunition, because the body armour they receive is heavy - 8kg plates. They cannot physically carry them. Our charity is growing, and they need and need... There are also a lot of requests for electronic equipment: mavicams, FPV guns...’, says Olena, who is responsible for requests at Veteran.

Olena is in touch with military women around the clock. She says many of them require a simple conversation and support. She can't hold back her tears as she remembers those from whom she will never receive messages or calls again.

‘2.5 years with the girls... The worst thing is that you lose girls, some of them are no longer alive. One of them shows me how to do sports because she wants to be in shape. I really want to see them live. We had a great time, I've already seen some girls, some of them become your family, you talk to them all the time,’ says Olena.

The women veterans also organized their own drone production. Ms Teresa is in charge of the drone factory. She is called Mum here. She says that the steel birds are built from scratch. They try to make each drone better and more efficient. That is why their work is highly appreciated at the front.

‘We win every operation, and in general, the drone improves by 30%. We have very good feedback from the military, and I am proud of it. A drone that hasn't killed a single Russian occupier is a bad drone. When it goes over there, it will be a good one,’ says Teresa, who is responsible for drone production at Veteran.

The drone factory has produced and sent several hundred of its own drones to the frontline. However, there are never too many drones. Tereza sighs, because there is not enough money to scale up production.

‘This drone carries a payload of 3.5 kg, so you can drop a first aid kit, medicine, water.  This drone can be used for reconnaissance, it can fly up to 3-4 km. We are trying to make sure that when a person receives this drone from scratch, he or she has a minimum of problems,’ says Tereza.

The organization holds meetings for visitors and provides comprehensive support. Veteran Yulia describes how the organization helped her return to civilian life after suffering war trauma.

‘That feeling when you are among your own. These girls, they are not afraid of what I tell them, what I saw, what I dream about, what I feel. And when we started talking to each other, there were 60 of us at the time, it turned out that we all had the same fears and problems, and you realise that you are not alone,’ says veteran Yulia.

After her demobilization, Yulia started making toys. Nowadays, her products do not stay at home for long. The woman is happy that they have become real amulets for the defenders of Ukraine.

‘I used to make them to calm myself down, but I just bought them as gifts and the women's veterans‘ movement bought them back, they supported me financially - I put all my post-traumatic stress into toys,’ she recalls.

The mission of this association is to strengthen women's voices in the army. The organization has launched a chatbot for all women who want to join the Defense Forces. It offers advice on preparation, what to look for at the beginning and during service. The head of the Veteranka movement assures that many Ukrainian women are not afraid of the army and are already preparing for it.

‘We are planning to strengthen the movement in order to strengthen our sisters, who will strengthen the movement, and we are creating branches so that they can accompany the girls to bring them back to civilian life. We have grown beyond a non-governmental organisation... thanks to this support, we find partners and stimulate services for female and male veterans,’ says Kateryna Pryimak, head of the Veteran movement.

On the 6th anniversary of the Veteranka movement, the organization created a large-scale project called The Power of Sisterhood to draw attention to the rights and opportunities of women in the army, reintegrate female veterans, and strengthen the voices of female defenders in the country. The women veterans also launched a fundraising campaign to raise UAH 6 million for combat nurses and their units fighting in the hottest spots on the frontline. The funds are needed for electronic warfare equipment, ground stations and drones.

Fundraising for the military for electronic warfare equipment, ground stations and drones:

IBAN UA 53 322001 00000 2620 9347 7325 70