“Women for a Stronger Ukraine”: From Frontlines to Leadership

"Women for a Stronger Ukraine": From Frontlines to Leadership

On 21 April in Kyiv, Katarína Mathernová, Ambassador of the European Union to Ukraine, will host an informal breakfast bringing together 25 Ukrainian women leaders from across sectors for an open discussion on the country's present and future.

"Ukrainian women today carry far more than their own lives. They carry families, communities, and the memory of this country. And they do it not because it is easy, but because it is necessary," said Katarína Mathernová.

The meeting will bring together women veterans, civil society representatives, human rights defenders, artists and public figures. The focus will be on their lived experience - from frontline realities to the long-term challenges of recovery - and on the role women already play in shaping Ukraine's future.

The discussion will be moderated by Ruslana Danilkina, a veteran and public activist from the Superhumans rehabilitation centre, and will centre on how women sustain communities, take on leadership roles, and carry responsibility in times of war.

A part of the programme will highlight support to the civic initiative "Do Not Be Indifferent!", which has expanded its work since the full-scale invasion to provide psychological support to families of fallen, missing and captured defenders.

"Without women, Ukraine's recovery will not work. Supporting their leadership is not a gesture - it is a necessity," Katarína Mathernová added.

During the event, a symbolic signing is expected to mark further steps in EU support for women's leadership and gender equality in Ukraine, including cooperation with organisations working on women's rights and participation in recovery processes.

The European Union has mobilised more than €14 million since 2022 to support women and girls affected by the war, strengthen civil society, and increase women's participation in decision-making, including efforts to prevent and respond to gender-based and conflict-related sexual violence.

Following the discussion, participants are expected to gather at Maidan Nezalezhnosti to honour fallen defenders.

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