On the third anniversary of the war between Russia and Ukraine, the embassies of France and Ukraine organized an event. Olena Rıj a combat medic in the Ukrainian Army, participated as a speaker and, stated that she was a restaurant owner before the war, adding, “No matter how the war ends, I will continue to serve in the Ukrainian Army.” She also delivered a powerful message to the world: “We were lulled to sleep and forgot our history. We hoped that someone would defend us, that they would rush to our aid. But the truth is, we must first be strong and trust in ourselves before anything else.”
The French Embassy in Ankara hosted an event titled “The Voice of Women and Children in Ukraine’s Resistance” to mark the third anniversary of the war between Russia and Ukraine. As part of the program, after screening the documentary “Women in War”, soldier and combat medic Olena Rıj, war photographer Vlada Liberova, and Dr. Hakan Ağır, who treats Ukrainian children, each shared their experiences.
WAR IS NO DIFFERENT FOR WOMEN AND MEN
Speaking exclusively before the event, Olena Rıj explained that before the war, she was a restaurant owner and worked in different cities across Ukraine. She decided to join the military when the war began and took part in front-line, combat in regions such as Zaporizhzhia, Sumy, and Kharkiv. Highlighting that war is no different for women than it is for men, Rıj shared the challenges she faced on the battlefield as a woman:
“First of all, war is seen as a man’s domain, so women have to be more creative. Issues like maintaining hygiene and changing clothes become much more difficult. You don’t need solutions for comfort but for practicality. Secondly, women can be more emotionally sensitive. We experience loss more deeply, or at least express it more openly. When I am in pain, I always cry, and having men around me does not stop me from doing so.”
THE ENEMY WILL GROW AND BECOME STRONGER
Olena Rıj emphasized that she will continue serving in the military after the war ends.
“Until February 24, 2022, I was a civilian and knew nothing about the military. No matter how this war ends, whether through negotiations, guarantees, or a ceasefire, it doesn’t matter. My decision will not change. I will continue serving in the Ukrainian army. I am here to contribute, to help improve and strengthen it. Because no matter what is promised or what agreement is signed, the enemy will not disappear. They will only grow and become stronger.”
DO NOT MAKE THE SAME MISTAKES WE DID…
Delivering a message to the world, Rıj said:
“Do not make the same mistakes we did. Learn from our mistakes and draw the right conclusions. The enemy never sleeps; they are always right beside us. We must anticipate their attacks and be ready to defend ourselves. Otherwise, they will destroy us. We allowed ourselves to believe that they were good, that they were our brothers, and that they cared for our well-being. But that was not true. We forgot our history. That was the biggest mistake—we forgot our history. And history keeps repeating itself. We made another mistake, and we must recognize it: We hoped that someone would defend us, that they would come to our aid. But the truth is, we must first be strong and trust in ourselves before anything else.”
I WISH WE NEVER HAD TO TAKE THESE PHOTOS
Before the war, Vlada Liberova and her husband worked as wedding photographers. She stated that she has worked on the front lines in all the major conflict zones in Ukraine except Mariupol.
“It is difficult to choose a single special photo or moment because behind every photo is a person’s pain, and tragedy. And honestly, like every Ukrainian journalist and photographer, I can say this: I wish we never had to take these photos, I wish these events had never happened. As a journalist, I always try to remain objective, but sometimes, that becomes impossible. When you see someone bleeding in front of you, you have to help them. It’s a matter of humanity. I believe everyone must remain human.”
UKRAINE’S STORIES ARE WAITING TO BE TOLD
Liberova continued:
“Before February 24, I was a wedding photographer. I had never worked in a war zone. But when the war began, I instinctively turned to this work. I often wonder if I can return to wedding photography after the war ends. But I realized that something inside me had changed. To take truly pure and heartfelt wedding photos again, you need to have inner peace. But I have seen too much pain, death, and brutality. That’s why I cannot go back to wedding photography. I will most likely continue making war documentaries because Ukraine’s stories, both now and after the war, are waiting to be told.
IF YOU WANT PEACE, PREPARE FOR WAR
Liberova delivered a final message to the world:
“Today, right now, we must unite. What Ukraine is facing is not just a conflict between Ukraine and Russia. This is the beginning of a much bigger and more terrifying process. It may not have fully taken shape yet, but if we want to survive in the future, we must come together today. There is an old saying: ‘If you want peace, prepare for war.’ This does not mean arming ourselves; it means the world must pay closer attention to what is happening. We must prevent Russian propaganda from infiltrating the information space.”
Julien Cats, Deputy Head of Mission at the French Embassy, and Oleksii Chernyshev, Chargé d’Affaires at the Ukrainian Embassy, also delivered speeches.
