Russia violates all norms of international law, but cannot break the spirit of ordinary Ukrainians, because they are fighting for true values. In response, the aggressor meets resistance from the civilian population, in particular, Ukrainian women.
We have created a series of short documentary videos, “Women in War: Defenders of Hope”, 2024, which draw attention to Russian war crimes against the civilian population.
The series highlights the resilience of Ukrainian women—public figures, human rights defenders, and activists—who have become symbols of the fight for rights and the restoration of justice. Each video tells the story of a woman experiencing the war in her own way.
Through women’s experiences and active involvement, we showcase the scale and consequences of Russian war crimes.
Total duration of the series: 36 minutes.
Language: Ukrainian with English subtitles.
Authors: NGO “Human Rights Group “SICH” in collaboration with Human Rights Production, NGO.
Episode about former prisoner of Russia Olena Yagupova.
Olena Yagupova was deprived of liberty by the Russian military and spent six months in captivity. She was interrogated with a bag over her head, tortured, and paraded in front of Kremlin-controlled media before being sent into forced labor—digging trenches for the Russian army. Now, Olena is a displaced person, as her home remains in occupied territory. However, she actively fights for her rights and testifies about the crimes of the occupiers.
Episode about volunteer Olha Zaitseva.
Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Olha Zaitseva has evacuated more than 7,000 people from hotspots. Every week, under shelling, she delivered humanitarian aid to those affected by the conflict. Olha saves not only people but also animals and dreams of opening a shelter in memory of her late British volunteer friend, Chris Perry.
Episode about human rights activist Yuliia Poliekhina.
Yuliia documents war crimes and survived the experience of evacuation with two children. She defends the rights of victims in both national and international courts. Her husband, a military man, was injured and had an amputation due to the war—an experience shared by many Ukrainian women. In this documentary series, we highlight the documentation process and explore what helps Yuliia cope with the challenges of war. Her story will be a source of support and inspiration for many other women.
Episode about public activist Karyna Dyachuk-Malahova.
Karyna is the founder of the NGO “Civilians in Captivity.” Thanks to her active stance, she was able to rescue her father from Russian torture chambers and, together with like-minded individuals, created an organization that defends the rights of civilians deprived of freedom by the aggressor state. The organization holds peaceful demonstrations, advocates for legislative changes, and supports hundreds of families whose loved ones remain in Russian captivity.
“It is possible to destroy a roof, a house, or even an entire city, but it is impossible to destroy the people who fight for what they believe in with all their hearts—the values of freedom, democracy, and human rights,” says the project leader, Director of Development at the NGO “Human Rights Group “SICH”, Olha Volynska.
Join our advocacy campaign – share these videos so the world can learn the truth about the crimes committed by the Russian military, and ensure they cannot escape accountability.