- A Ukrainian charity helps to outfit the country’s pregnant female soldiers.
- Insider reported that Zemliachky co-founders said the group had helped thousands of women in the years since the beginning of the war.
- The founders of the initiative said that pregnant soldiers can continue to serve as non-combat troops until they are 7 months old.
In the fight to defend their country from Russian invaders, nothing can stop Ukraine’s dedicated female soldiers — not even pregnancy.
A Ukrainian charity organization in Kyiv, has purchased and sent 30 specially-made uniforms since the war began almost a year ago. pregnant soldiersInsider reported that Andriy Kolesky and Ksenia Drayaniuk, co-founders of the group, had served in the army. This highlights the extraordinary lengths Ukrainian women go to during war.
Kolesnyk stated that “most of the women who joined Ukraine’s army just had a normal civil life.” They felt they needed to defend their country and its borders. Their children as well as other Ukrainians children were also at risk.
The couple founded the company together ZemliachkyA nonprofit organization that is both documents female Ukrainian soldiers’ unique experiencesOutfitting women with the necessary items for combat, including hygiene products, uniforms and boots that fit properly, is a priority.
More than 60,000 Ukrainian women are currently serving in the army. At least 5,000 of them serve in combat units. Members of the Ukrainian ParliamentI have said.The life of this small minority of Ukrainian soldiers has been made more difficultLack of female resources is a major problem. Insider has previously reported.
Zemliachky Courtesy
Wartime Pregnancies
It was one female soldier in particular — a sniper to whom Zemliachky had previously sent aid — who reached back out to the organization and inquired about a uniform that could accommodate her pregnancy, the founders said.
Kolesnyk claimed that the sniper hid her pregnancy from her superiors for almost three months, in order to continue frontline duty. He said that the dangers and discomfort of spending hours on her back near the frontlines eventually convinced her to withdraw.
Kolesnyk reported that more pregnant soldiers began to request the pants after Zemliachky’s post about them. The pants can be adjusted to fit her growing belly.
According to the couple, pregnant women who enlist in Ukraine’s Army continue to serve for up to seven-months into their pregnancy. This requires uniforms that “fit like a second skin.”
Kolesnyk stated, “Imagine giving female uniforms to all men in every army in the world.” “Why should females have their uniforms on? In the army, they do the same work and hold the same positions. “They should be able to work comfortably.”
Armor, ammunition and weddings
Kolesnyk said that Drahaniuk and Kolesnyk were inspired to start Zemliachky when Kolesnyk’s sister, Anastasia enlisted and sent the couple an extensive list of essential items she lacked. The couple sent Anastasia Zemliachky the first “humanitarian” box, which included 30 different feminine hygiene products and medications.
They said that after the couple started posting about their nonprofit’s work, it grew in popularity. Word-of-mouth among female soldiers brought them more requests.
Kolesnyk stated that “the more people know about us, the better they will be able to tell their friends how this foundation supports women. Any female soldier is welcome to write to us via Instagram.”
According to the Zemliachky site, in the few months since the organization was founded, it has provided support to thousands of female soldiers throughout Ukraine. It sent more than 200 million dollars worth of equipment, including armor, ammunition and helmets. Also included were clothing, footwear, first-aid kits, hygiene products, and other items.
Zemliachky not only provides clothing for Ukrainian female soldiers but also assists with their training. Organise weddings or honeymoons for Ukrainian military personnelThe program offers 10 free sessions of therapy to women serving in the military.
Kolesnyk, Drahaniuk and others said that the joyous wedding videos and photos of women in new uniforms made the work worth it. However, the reality of war is often tempered by these heartwarming moments.
Kolesnyk noted that behind every inspiring story, there were hundreds of sad ones. We sometimes receive requests to make a uniform for pregnant women, but we don’t send them because we learn that the woman has lost her baby.
The couple also described instances of sending out humanitarian boxes to female soldiers only for the items to be returned — the women in need no longer alive to use them.
Kolesnyk: “There’s a lot inspiring stories. But we can’t call them always inspiring, because it’s war.” All these stories will be deemed inspiring when we win.
