On the eve of International Women’s Day for the Rights of Women and International Peace, a roundtable discussion titled “Women’s Leadership and Resilience: Challenges of Wartime” took place in Kyiv. The event was organized by the Federation of Trade Unions of Ukraine with the support of the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions and the NGO “Labor Initiatives.”

The event brought together representatives of the FPU’s member organizations, social partners, and international organizations to promote and support women’s leadership in Ukraine during the war. Participants discussed, among other topics, strengthening women’s economic resilience and improving legislative protections in the labor sector.

Deputy Head of the All-Ukrainian Trade Union of Defenders of Ukraine, Sofiya Cherepanova, took part in the panel discussion titled “The Labor Sphere During Wartime: Challenges and Specifics for Women.” In her speech, she addressed the support of women servicemembers, veterans, and families of the fallen, citing examples from the Trade Union’s work.

“Our Trade Union works systematically and purposefully to strengthen the socio-economic protection of women. It is important to understand that protecting women’s rights in the military is not a separate issue, but part of a strong, modern, and just state. We firmly believe that this is an investment in the strength of the entire nation. When a woman in uniform feels supported, she serves with confidence. And when she is confident, all of Ukraine becomes stronger,” emphasized Sofiya in her speech.

At the end of the event, guests were shown the documentary *Azovstal. A Shelter of Love*, which tells the tragic story of the love between border guards Andriy Subotin and Valeriya Karpilenko. The audience included the hero’s mother, Lyudmyla Subotina, and the film’s director, Stanislav Suknenko.