Ukraine: Perseverance in the fourth year of war

Three years after the start of Russias full-scale invasion, Ukraine is experiencing the harshest winter of war to date. In the Donbas, the Russian aggressors are conquering more territory despite heavy defensive battles, while the civilian population is suffering from constant air strikes, including on civilian targets throughout the country, and from power cuts. Ukraine is suffering civilian casualties every day and the people are exhausted. There is no clear perspective on how and when this war can end.

The reading of ‘Letters from women in Ukraine to the free world’ from the book ‘Like a ray of light in the darkness’ illustrates the everyday lives of Ukrainian women and highlights the upheavals that this war has caused for millions of people.

In a following panel discussion, Ukrainian women look at society during the war from different perspectives. Civil society organisations continue to make a significant contribution to Ukraine's resilience and to maintaining social cohesion. Young people in particular are very committed in this regard. How are people in the country following the international discussions on ending the war, especially since the election of Donald Trump? How can their voices and their comprehensive security needs be made more audible? Ukrainian participants of a feminist academy organised by the Heinrich Böll Foundation and NGO Divchata with the support of the Robert Bosch Stiftung and other guests will talk about their experiences and share ideas for the future of Ukraine on these and other questions.

Admission from 17:30

Programme

18.00 - 19.00 hrs
Welcoming address

• Jan Philipp Albrecht, Chairman of the Heinrich Böll Foundation

Reading and discussion

• Aurélie Bros, editor of the book ‘Like a ray of light in the darkness’ Letters from women in Ukraine to the free world.
• Kristina Parioti, philologist, author of one of the letters

Fragments of the letters will be read by the actress Mala Emde.

Moderation: Galyna Kotliuk, Heinrich Böll Foundation, Ukraine

19:00 - 19:30 
Break with drinks and snacks

19.30 - 21:00
Discussion on the current situation in Ukraine:

• Yuliia Sporysh, Divchata, Ukraine
• Oksana Potapova, peace researcher, feminist activist
• Lyudmila Melnyk, political scientist, German-Ukrainian Society
• Teresa Eder, Program Director Foreign & Security Policy, Heinrich Böll Foundation Washington, DC

Moderation: Johannes Voswinkel

Kontakt: 
Anna Antonina Łysiak
Projektkoordination Referat Ost- und Südosteuropa
E lysiak@boell.de

» Participation on site
at the the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Conference Center, Schumannstr. 8, 10117 Berlin

» Livestream
Alternatively, you can follow the event via the livestream without registering.
Livestream in German
Livestream in Ukrainian