Olena Biletska, lawyer: "In 2014, Ukrainian women were seen as people who needed protection. Today, they are increasingly asserting themselves."

Olena Biletska, a Ukrainian lawyer and social activist, founded the Ukrainian Women’s Guard in 2014 to provide military and civilian training for women in response to the war. The initiative began when Biletska sought ways to protect her family and assist others as the conflict escalated. She found trainers for security and survival skills and shared her vision on social media, quickly attracting over 600 responses from women eager to learn self-defense and first aid. The organization aims to empower women and prevent them from feeling helpless during the ongoing conflict.