Stories of resilience: why supporting women’s organizations in Ukraine is critical

"I arrived with just one bag. I came for three days, but I have been here for three years." This is how Valentina, an internally displaced woman from Kharkiv, located just 30 km from the frontline, describes the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.  

This video is about women whose lives have been changed by war – and why direct, flexible and multi-year funding for women's organizations is essential.

In 2025, women's organizations in Ukraine lost over $27M in international funding. Cuts in 2026 are expected to match or exceed this figure. With support from UN Women and NGO Unity Platform, women in collective sites receive legal aid, psychosocial support, GBV case management, sewing workshops and voucher assistance – not just to survive, but to rebuild.

We are grateful to the Governments of Sweden and Latvia, as well as the UN Women National Committees, for their support.

The opinions and views expressed in the video are those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the views of UN Women, partner organizations, or donors supporting the project.