Stand With Them: 10 Ukrainian Women Leaders Show The World Their Power
Ukrainian First Lady Olena Zelenska leads with compassion and courage. (AP Photo)
As the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues to heighten a world humanitarian crisis for the more than 10 million people who have fled their homes and the thousands who have been killed, a barrage of heartbreaking images and stories comes from the bunkers, battered fields and destroyed landscape of multiple cities.
What is also emerging is a distinct story of Ukrainian women who are showing the world their courage, tenacity and strength of leadership in adversity. They are demonstrating their leadership as soldiers, activists, diplomats, politicians, caretakers, mothers, daughters, partners, grandmothers, sisters, volunteers and advocates for their country.
“#Ukrainian #women are showing the world their courage, tenacity and strength of leadership in adversity. They are demonstrating their #leadership as soldiers, activists, diplomats, partners, politicians, caretakers, mothers, daughters, volunteers and advocates for their country. #SupportUkraine”
“Tens of thousands of Ukrainian women have taken up arms during the war sparked by Russia’s invasion. According to media reports, women constitute as much as 15 percent to 17 percent of the Ukrainian fighting force,” the New Hampshire Bulletin reports.
“In 2022, some of the same Ukrainian women stepped into what are now familiar roles, working day and night to address the needs of the army and of the volunteer Territorial Defense Forces, stranded civilians, the disabled and elderly, medical practitioners, and even abandoned pets,” according to the New Hampshire Bulletin.
The war comes at a time when more women were gaining political power and recognition in Ukraine.
“The #UkraineWar comes at a time when more #women were gaining political power and recognition in Ukraine. #womenleaders ”
The National Interest reports, “The number of women in parliament grew considerably after the 2019 elections to 20 percent, demonstrating their larger political role in Ukrainian affairs. Women have also been central to countering Russian aggression since 2014. They now make up 20 percent of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and under a new law, they are ensured equal rights with men to serve in combat positions and earn promotions.”
The National Interest continues, “Many women also serve in law enforcement and other security agencies, demonstrating great commitment and expertise. With the Zelensky administration, there has been a qualitative increase in the number of women in high-level ministerial positions. Gender equality has been an aspirational goal since the Revolution of Dignity, although much more needs to be done to empower women economically, socially, and politically.”
Take The Lead honors 10 Ukrainian women leaders who are serving their country and the needs of their citizenry, families and communities during a monumental crisis. Particularly during Women’s History Month, it is important to acknowledge these women who are making history—however unwittingly—during a war they did not incite.
“@Takeleadwomen honors 10 #Ukrainian #womenleaders who are serving their country and the needs of their citizenry during a monumental crisis. Particularly during #WomensHistoryMonth, it is important to acknowledge these women who are making history—however unwittingly—during a war they did not incite. ”
1. Olena Zelenska. Now in an undisclosed safe place, the First Lady of Ukraine, married for 18 years to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, recently sent out a plea to the world: "STOP WAR." The mother of two children, she had been working on improving the nutritional quality of food in Ukraine’s schools. She has spoken out to plead, "Help us to stop Russian atrocity in Ukraine." In her recent letter to Le Parisien, Zelenska appealed to all the first ladies of the world for support of Ukraine’s refugees including many women and children, The Guardian reports. “I want to thank all Europeans who are now helping our people, giving them homes, feeding them, encouraging them … like us, you weren’t prepared for having so many traumatized people in your country. But the way you have reacted is worth of a collective Nobel Peace prize. Ukrainians are marvelous people and very grateful. Our children will never forget what you have done for us.”
“ Ukrainian First Lady Olena Zelenska leads with compassion and courage. She recently sent out a plea to the world: “STOP WAR.” #stopwar #leadlikeawomen”
2. Yulia Tymoshenko. The first female Prime Minister of Ukraine serving two terms in 2005, and then from 2007 to 2010, received a PhD from Kyiv National Economic University and became president of United Energy Systems of Ukraine in 1995. Elected to the Ukrainian parliament in 1996, she was appointed Deputy Prime Minister for Fuel and Energy. She tells FRANCE 24 “that she thanks the whole world for its support and the sanctions against Putin.” She warns, "If Putin's army intends to bomb our nuclear power plants, it will undoubtedly be a tragedy for the entire continent."
3. Kira Rudyk. A member of Ukrainian Parliament, she is the leader of Political party Golos, former CEO of Ring Ukraine and a frequent guest on global media commenting on the ongoing conflict. She recently posted to her account on Twitter @kiraincongress, “I am so afraid that at some point people will become numb to the war. To the numbers of died and to the destructions of the cities. This is why I’m telling these stories. Because there are people's lives behind the statistics.”
4. Oleksandra Ustinova. Parliament member of the Verkhovna Rada and the faction leader of the Holos political party, she is an international advocate for Ukraine. According to the Washington Post, she has been in Washington, D.C. since before the conflict began in February, as a member of Parliament. Now she is meeting with Congressional members for help for Ukraine. More than eight months pregnant, Ustinova, is not able to travel back to Ukraine. “We are still negotiating for help. And I tell them that every day of negotiations is thousands of lives,” Ustinova tells the Washington Post. “For every Ukrainian, we’re afraid to open Facebook every night to see news of who was killed that day.”
“@SashaUstinovaUA, Parliament member of the Verkhovna Rada and the faction leader of the Holos political party, is an international #advocate for #Ukraine. #womenleaders #powerfulwomen ”
5. Lesia Vasylenko. Mother of three and a member of Ukrainian Parliament, she is Member of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, President of the Bureau of Women Parliamentarians, Co-Chair of Energy and Environment Caucus and Co-Chair of Hydronomics Caucus. She is asking the world for a no-fly zone in her country. CBS reports she “has been documenting her fight for freedom and her family's quest for safety online. She tweeted recently: "The violence is killing me. The inhumanity tears my heart apart." She adds, "We need the world to stand with us, not just, like, Twitter hashtags – really come here and stand with us. We are a partner, a global partner of NATO, of the U.S., of Canada, of all the other countries. And as a partner, we responsibly assess our capabilities. And we do not have the capability to shoot down every single Russian missile, rocket or bomb that is fired onto the territory of Ukraine."
6. Inna Sovsun. A member of Parliament, she is the former First Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine, and was also the co-founder and former director of the Center for Society Studies. Since 2011 she has taught at the National University of Kyiv and is the former vice president of Kyiv School of Economics. In Parliament, she is member of the Committee on Energy, Housing and Utilities Services of the Verkhovna Rada.
7. Iryna Slavinska. A journalist remaining in Ukraine, “she shelters underground in Ukraine at a location she cannot disclose. Her voice sounds steady, undeterred by the wail of sirens in the background. An executive producer for Radio Culture at Suspilne, Ukraine’s public broadcasting company, she is normally responsible for a team of reporters, producers, and editors,” Foreign Policy reports. Her colleague, “Oleksandra Kuvshynova was the fixer killed alongside Fox News cameraperson Pierre Zakrzewski.” She tells Foreign Policy, “Unfortunately, this happens a lot to Ukrainian women journalists in war. Women reporters on the ground face the impossible trade-off of working or fleeing with their children and parents.”
8. Amelia. A young girl singing from a bomb shelter the song, “Let it Go,” from the movie, “Frozen,” is immortalized in the video that has reached more than 3 million viewers. She continues to be a source of inspiration around the world of innocence prevailing through war.
“ The viral video of #Amelia, a young girl singing from a bomb shelter the song, “Let it Go,” from the movie, “Frozen,” continues to be a source of inspiration around the world of innocence prevailing through war. #supportUkriane
”
9. Irina Maniukina. A Ukrainian pianist and mother of two playing a rendition of Chopin’s composition, Aeolian Harp, is featured in a now viral video. She plays after she returns to her home in Bila Tserkva, 80 kilometers from Kyiv after it has been bombed and is badly damaged. The piano is not. The song she chose also has the name, “Shepherd Boy” which originates from this anecdote: “When a student asked him about this piece, Chopin advised them to picture a shepherd boy taking refuge in a grotto to avoid a storm, and playing the melody on his flute.”
10. Mila Kunis. The American actress and her husband, Ashton Kutcher, have raised nearly $35 million “via a GoFundMe benefitting the people of Ukraine, where Kunis was born. Zelensky praised them on social media saying he's ‘impressed by their determination’ in raising money for the more than 10 million refugees, and shared an image of the three of them on a video call,” Yahoo reports. The money is going to “Flexport.org and Airbnb.org, which are providing immediate help to those in need. The former is organizing shipments of relief supplies to refugee sites in Poland, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia and Moldova while the latter is providing free, short-term housing to refugees fleeing Ukraine. Last week, they hit their initial goal, so they raised it to $40 million, imploring that people continue to donate.” Born in Chernivtsi, Ukraine, Kunis moved to the U.S. in 1991 when she was 8. "I very much have always felt like an American," she tells Yahoo. She says, "[Russia's invasion] happens and I can't express or explain what came over me, but all of a sudden I was like, 'Oh my God, I feel like a part of my heart just got ripped out.' It doesn’t take away from who I am as a person but it just adds an entire different layer."
Each of these 10 Ukrainians are role models serving as inspiration for millions around the globe. Role models are essential for everyone, and especially for women and girls.
“Each of these 10 Ukrainians including @kiraincongress and Mila Kunis (with @aplusk) are role models serving as inspiration for millions. #Rolemodels are essential for everyone, and especially for women and girls. #womenofUkraine”
According to HR Director, “They should inspire us when we are faced with adversity, career roadblocks or challenging workplaces. Ultimately, role models can offer an alternative way of looking at who we are, what works for us, and what we want to achieve. Research in 2020 with the 30,000-everywoman membership found 36% cite role models as providing the confidence to make decisions they otherwise would not have taken.”
HR Director reports, “Research by The Glass Hammer and Accenture showed the strong correlation between role models and individual aspirations, with 83% of women with strong ambition saying they had a role model. It is widely accepted that having role models can instill a powerful drive to achieve more and to aim higher.”
The report continues, “People often have multiple role models – parents, teachers, celebrities, colleagues – and they can be crucial to achieving your potential in all areas of life.”
