Ukrainian soldiers.Photo: Serhii Hudak/ Ukrinform/Future Publishing via Getty Images
Amid Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine, millions have had to flee the country, seeking refuge in Central and Eastern Europe as attacks continue to obliterate large swaths of the country.
But Others — including many women — havedecided to stay and fight for their homeland.
“I wasn’t about to leave all the saving and defending to the men. I may be a woman, but I have no children, and I’m ready to fight,” Olga KovalenkotoldUSA Todayin a story published Friday. “This is my land, I stay.”
Born to a Ukrainian mother and Russian father, she toldUSA Today: “I choose to risk my life for my country; it’s what my Ukrainian blood tells me to do.”
Citing numbers from the Ukrainian government,USA Todayreports that women comprise some 15% of Ukraine’s army.
For her part Ukraine’s First LadyOlena Zelenskaexpressed admiration and gratitude for the women of her country in a recent, and rare, interview during the war.
“In Ukraine there are 2 million more women than men. These days, this statistic takes on its full meaning,” Zelenska, 44,told French newspaperLe Parisienin an interview published earlier this month, according to a translation. “Our resistance, like our future victory, also has a particularly feminine face.”
“Women are fighting in the army, they are signed up to territorial defense, they are the foundation of a powerful volunteer movement to supply, deliver, feed,” she continued.
Some have also stayed behind to give birth, often doing so in bomb shelters and hospital basements.
“Since the start of the war, we have had over 4,000 babies,” Zelenska toldLe Parisien. “They were born in basements, in the subway, in bomb shelters … and sometimes in bombed out maternity wards — ashappened in Mariupol,” a Ukrainian port city that has beenthe site of intensive fighting.
“Others are simply doing their jobs, in hospitals, pharmacies, shops, transport, public services so that life continues,” Zelenska added.
Russia’sattack on Ukrainecontinues after their forces launched a large-scale invasion on Feb. 24 — the first major land conflict in Europe in decades.
With NATO forces massing in the region around Ukraine, various countries have also pledged aid or military support to the resistance. Ukrainian PresidentVolodymyr Zelenskyycalled for peace talks — so far unsuccessful — while urging his country to fight back.
Putin insists Ukraine has historic ties to Russia and he is acting in the best security interests of his country. Zelenskyy vowed not to bend.
“Nobody is going to break us, we’re strong, we’re Ukrainians,“he told the European Unionin a speech in the early days of the fighting, adding, “Life will win over death. And light will win over darkness.”
source: people.com
