In most cases war has an image of a man with a machine gun and woman as a victim. But conflict in Ukraine, which started in February 2022, shows various females images referring to many female archetypes.
Brave and independent female soldiers fighting arm in arm with men. Caring mothers protecting lives and mental welfare of their children, when their husbands are at the frontline. Women taking care of elders and sick ones. Predictive females defending national values and heritage, knowing how huge role they will play in the times of recovery. Those ones, who are trying to live their lives no matter of bomb noise nearby and who are in love for the first time, forced by war to part with their boyfriends. But also those ones, who suffer. They are everyday heroes responsible for things, which are not visible for the first sight.
I went to Ukraine for the first time at the begining of March 2022. I came to Lviv from Medyka, where I worked as a volunteer at the Polish-Ukrainian border during the first three weeks of the war. From the very beginning, I went to a self-defense school. Half of the people in firearms and first aid classes were young women. After a few conversations, I decided to take a better look at them and try to find an answer for the question why so many women want to learn to use weapon and what emotions guide them every day at the beginning of the war.
After living in Ukraine for half a year, I would venture to say that Ukrainian women are exceptional when it comes to resisting the everyday problems posed by the full-scale war that is taking place in their country.
Women and War 1
Refugee women from Ukraine waiting in line for a bus shortly after crossing the Ukrainian-Polish border in Medyka Poland Poland is a country that has provided shelter to over 9 million war refugees from Ukraine mainly women and children Some of them however returned to their homeland Medyka Poland March 2022
Women and War 2
Refugees from eastern Ukraine cleaning the hall in the Lviv Puppet Theatre which became their home for a few months April 19 2022 Lviv Ukraine The grandmother of 15-year-old Amina the girl in the picture on the right died the day before The teenager was left alone in Lviv because her mother refused to take care of her In the center of the picture we can see different image of motherhood - Olena 44 years old who escaped with her son little Yaroslav 1 year 7 months from Kharkiv
Women and War 3
Refugees near the railway station in Lviv March 13 2022 Lviv Ukraine As a result of the war in Ukraine about 4 million people left the country and over 8 million had to flee the war to other areas inside Ukraine
Women and War 4
Residents of Lviv in the shelter in Franka Park during the rocket alarm March 22 2022 Lviv Ukraine Despite regular rocket attacks on Ukrainian cities most residents got used to living in a sense of danger and only a few hid in shelters during rocket alerts
Women and War 5
Private houses and properties damaged as a result of fighting April 14 2022 Velika Dymerka Kyiv Oblast Ukraine Several tanks and vehicles of the troops of the Russian Federation were stationed in the yard of a private house They were all destroyed as a result of an attack by Ukrainian troops using among others Javelin anti-tank weapons
Women and War 6
Training for civilians at the self defence school April 8 2022 Lviv Ukraine The inhabitants of Lviv train their skills here wanting to be ready for a possible attack of Russian troops on Lviv
Women and War 7
Funeral of four Ukrainian soldiers at the Saint Peter and Paul Garrison Church in Lviv Those soldiers died near Javoriv as a result of a rocket attack by Russia
Women and War 8
Art conservation students protecting sculptures and paintings inside Saints Peter and Paul Garrison Church from the effects of Russian rocket fire March 21 2022 Lviv Ukraine
Women and War 9
Students of one of Lviv s ballet schools practice in traditional folk costumes in Franka Park June 23 2022 Lviv Ukraine Since the outbreak of the war all Ukrainians have taken advantage of every opportunity to publicly show their patriotism and attachment to the country Wearing traditional Ukrainian clothes is one of them
Women and War 10
An incubator for premature babies in the basement of the Lviv State Regional Clinical Perinatal Center March 14 2022 Lviv Ukraine Due to the threat of missile attacks from Russia the hospital authorities were forced to organize a provisional maternity ward in inhumane conditions
Women and War 11
Refugee woman with child from eastern Ukraine in the train waiting at Lviv railway station March 13 2022 Lviv Ukraine
Women and War 12
Maryna Koszel sitting in the basement of Kharkiv National Agricultural University May 17 2022 Kharkiv Ukraine Maryna s house was bombed at the end of March As a result of the bombing she was wounded in both legs Maryna is waiting for another surgery because fragments of the Russian missile are still in her body
