This INSIDE UKRAINE story is from THE CITY OF Slovyansk, in the donetsk region.

* All images and answers in the feature were provided by the WOW Woman, unless otherwise specified.

INSIDE UKRAINE SERIES: A SNAPSHOT, A DAY-IN-THE-LIFE, A GLIMPSE OF WHAT IT’S LIKE TO LIVE, RESIST, SURVIVE AND PERSEVERE IN A NATION UNDER ATTACK.

GLORY TO THE UKRAINIAN WOW WOMEN, for SUPPORTING THEIR COUNTRY AND BRINGING UKRAINE CLOSER TO VICTORY.

“How to encourage and re-assure someone who, on a daily basis, risks her life saving everyday Ukrainians from russian bombs, russian shelling and russia-perpetrated terror? It’s an emotional and surreal experience, to be in a warm, safe place in United States, but communicate with a woman inside Ukraine, who is rescuing folks from the war zone, who, most days, is covered in other peoples’ blood. Such are my What’sApp and Signal conversations lately. I ask questions, get honest answers and then try to help with words of encouragement, positive images and through donating money to the Ukrainian search & rescue efforts.

Ms. Olha Zaitseva is the kind of person you’re instantly drawn to; you know the kind I mean. You want to chat to her while in line for the movie tickets, share her laughter as she passes you on the street, fight the urge to wave to her across a New York subway platform. It’s her aura of positivity and self-assurance. Olha has a presence of a mini (because she seems petite) warrior; her kind smile calms instantly. It’s apparent, from the images she sent me, that Olha doesn’t shy away from diving in, connecting with people and immediately securing their trust.

Even through our limited war-time communication, I’ve been touched by Ms. Zaitseva’s kindness and compassion; pulled in a million different directions, Olha finds a moment to send a kind word about my relatives in Zaporizhzhia (a city in the East of Ukraine, currently suffering from heavy russian bombing).

Olha is a hero because every day she puts on a brave face. Olha is a hero because by risking her life daily, she reminds every Ukrainian that our freedom is precious. Olha is my hero because by choosing this path voluntarily, she is risking everything to help others.

I wish the world for Olha, and for all Ukrainians. “Mi peremozhimo” - We will overcome! We will win against this brutal aggressor.

Slava Ukraini, Glory to Ukraine!”

- Olga Shmaidenko, Founder of WOW Woman.

Search, Rescue, Front Line War Volunteer, First Aid, Slovyansk, Donetsk

1. Name. 

Olha Zaitseva.

2. Where were you born and where do you live now?

I was born in Ukraine, in the city of Dnipro. I currently live in Slovyansk in the Donetsk Region. This is currently the most convenient point for me and my team to leave from, as we carry out civilian evacuations from the zones of russian attacks. Every other weekend, however, I come home to Dnipro, to see my child. We communicate more online these days.

A map above shows the proximity of the city of Slovyansk to the russian Federation, the land that was once occupied and then freed by the Armed forces of Ukraine. Source: criticalthreats.org

3. What did you study and what is your profession?

My background is in Economics and Finance. Currently, I am volunteering on the front lines, doing my part to help my country.

4. What was your typical day like before the war and how has your role changed since the invasion of Ukraine?

Before the war, I worked as an economist; in fact I was excited to start a new job on March 3, 2022. But then, in the early hours of February 24, 2022, russians began a full-scale attack on Ukraine. Together with my child, my mother, our dog, and our packed backpacks, we walked to my sister's place, to all be together. We did not know what was coming nor could we predict all the coming horrors. As I remember it now, the immediate plan was to pack our documents, a little bit of money (somewhere around $100 each), and be prepared for the unexpected. I also remember writing a letter to my kid, making sure his address was in our phone contacts, just in case something happened to any of us.

I was staying at the volunteering headquarters without days off, without breaks, without eating or sleeping properly. Every day I was out on the street, welcoming the military and other volunteers to our headquarters, I coordinated the foot (and car) traffic into the center.

Then, in March, when things got much worse for my country, I travelled East, to Donbas; I brought humanitarian aid to Ukraine’s 53rd Tank Division. From then on, I started travelling to the worst-hit areas like Kharkiv, Mariupol (now, tragically and temporarily under russian occupation), Slovyansk (where I now live), Kramatorsk, recently liberated Lyman and other hot spots.

5. What would you say are your strengths and superpowers?

My strength is my intuition. I always try to listen to that little voice inside my head; thanks to it, I am able to withstand constant russian shelling and I do not panic. And to be honest with you, I still have many plans for my life; I haven't gotten married yet, nor have I learned how to drive properly. My kid needs me, my sisters need me! Everyone is waiting for me, I feel it. Their prayers are with me, and that’s what carries me forward.

(1) А це ми з моїм сином і нашою собакою. (2) Це мої рідні сестри. Я у сім’ї третя і наймолодша. (3 & 4) Я зі своїм сином; це мої хрещені діти

(1) This is my son and I, together with our dog. (2) My two sisters and I. I am the third and youngest. (3 & 4) I am with my son; these are my god children.

6. What are some concrete actions (big or small) you’ve done and continue doing to help Ukraine and Ukrainian people?

We deliver humanitarian aid to the individuals and communities in need; we reach Ukrainians living in the ‘hot’ areas, those civilians living under constant russian shelling. We respond (via our dedicated text/call hotline) to those who live in the constant fear of explosions in their own back yard. We also rescue and transport wounded people out of the hottest spots, the front line of this cruel war. As a volunteer responder, I always carry medicine, bandages and food packages for the civilian population, for women, children, the elderly, for people with disabilities. When needed, we’ve also helped the military with medicine and first aid and there have been situations where we rescued wounded soldiers from Soledar or Bakhmut (the most intense battle areas in the Eastern Ukraine). Our days are always unexpected and unpredictable. There is no “typical”.

”Невже я хотіла піти і втекти в безпечне місце? Якщо чесно, то ні. Бо я з перших днів займаюсь волонтереством. Бували дні, коли думала, щоб відправити сина, своїх сестер з дитьми та маму у Европу. Але вони без мене не поїдуть. Якщо я буду розуміти, що моєму місту загрожує небезпека, то я не буду питати свою родину, а одразу їх вивезу у безпечне місце.

Did I ever want to leave and run away to a safer place? To be honest, no. I’ve been volunteering since the very beginning. There have been days when I thought about sending my son, my sisters with their children, and my mother to Europe. But they will not leave without me. If I see that my city (Dnipro) is in danger, I will not be asking their opinion, but will immediately move them to a safer location.”

Thus far, our collective efforts brought 4,000 people out of danger, directly from the front line. In addition, more than 100,000 tons of humanitarian aid have been delivered; items like bulletproof vests, sleeping bags, mattresses, together with food, hygiene and medical aid. In addition, we always travel with animal food and feed the strays we see. Many animals we pass, have been injured.

7. What are things you do just for you? Is it possible to stay sane in a war situation? What are some things that help you to not lose yourself?

I try not to read the news, because I am in the epicenter of the war. When I'm not reading the news, I'm somehow calmer. Just doing the job, just doing what I can. I try not to get weighted down by every story, but it's hard. I almost never cried during the first year of the full-scale war and kept myself together pretty well. But now it's getting harder and harder to stay stoic and calm. After the deaths of my volunteer friends, then military acquaintances, then deaths of civilians all around. I can't hold back my tears anymore. Death is near, it is breathing down our backs; just like those ‘inhumans’ who crossed onto our land and started killing all living Ukrainian things. Rusnia (russia) brings death and destruction. It hurts me a lot to understand it.

I still can’t comprehend where they have so much hatred?! How?! For what?!

What helps me to not lose myself at the end of the day? When I see that I’ve helped a person, a soldier, a grandmother, a grandfather, a dog, a cat; that’s how I feel calmer. When I hear someone say to me: “Olya, thank you! God bless you! We will always remember you.” It warms my heart and I want to continue helping and helping even more.

8. Do you feel the war changed you? How? Since the start of the war, has anything surprised you about yourself (how you have handled yourself, remained strong, found inspiration in unlikely sources, etc.), about your country, about your ideas about humanity? What have been some of your epiphanies?

After the concussion, my hearing in my left ear became worse; however I noticed that I began to understand people better. Now I can tell the difference between loyalty and betrayal, sincerity and flattery - I can (literally) see the truth from the lies, on peoples’ faces.

What surprised me at first but feels normal now? I learned to distinguish between the sounds of the anti-aircraft fire (hail and tornadoes, the sounds of the enemy planes, their mortars, russian rockets, small arms fire) and the life-saving sound of the Ukrainian anti-aircraft fire. Never did I think (as a girl, an Economist, from Dnipro) that I would ever know such sounds and be able to distinguish between them, for my own survival.

9. What do you want the world to know about Ukrainians at this moment in time? About Ukrainian women?

A Ukrainian woman is a special phenomenon!

Ukrainian women have always made, and continue making history. Ukrainian woman is courage, beauty, tenderness personified. I am so incredibly proud of our girls, women, grandmothers and mothers; in Ukraine I’ve seen women, without hesitation, taking up weapons and proceeding to defend their home, their children.

I am writing this with grateful and proud tears in my eyes. A low bow to every Ukrainian woman!

10. Who are your WOW Women who inspire you?

To be honest, I don't have such people. Only I am responsible for my own choices, as I consciously move through life. I believe only in free will, freedom and distancing myself from the mindless/blind worship of idols or leaders. Perhaps this is what makes us Ukrainians different from russians; it annoys them quite a lot, but makes me proud and happy.

I do want to add that I am very proud of our First Lady of Ukraine - Olena Zelenska.

life; then and now.

12. What will be the first thing you’ll do when Ukraine wins? What are your dreams for yourself and your family after the war is finished?

I will most definitely cry. I will cry as I remember every dead soldier, volunteer, medic, civilian and every child. I will cry as I remember all the horrors that had to be experienced, in order to become free.

Now, I feel all this pain, it’s all inside me at the moment.

13. Where can others find you/your work? (links to website, blog, etc).

Instagram: @olhazaitseva and my Facebook page

This is our fund: Instagram @elefond.ua and a website: elefond.com