Nadia Moskalenko expressed her strong desire to assist in a significant manner. In Pavlohrad, Ukraine, women are stepping up to undertake a task typically assigned to men – working underground to extract coal and maintain power supply amidst the ongoing conflict with Russia. These women, dubbed Ukraine’s modern-day “Rosie the Riveters,” are making a vital contribution to the war effort by filling in for the male miners who have joined the fight.
Moskalenko, a 48-year-old grandmother, shared her motivation for joining the workforce underground, revealing that her two sons had volunteered to fight Russia. Eager to support the country and replace the men who had left for battle, she took on the role at a local mine on the outskirts of Pavlohrad. Despite the physical demands of the job previously limiting women’s access to such roles, the government’s policy shifted when male miners enlisted in the military, opening up opportunities for women to contribute underground.
Operating cable cars within the mine’s extensive tunnel network, Moskalenko emphasized the importance of her job, requiring quick reactions and a high level of attentiveness. As a significant number of male miners departed to fight, leaving behind a workforce depleted by casualties and injuries, women like Moskalenko and elevator operator Iryna Basanets have stepped in to maintain operations.
Basanets, who also joined the mine post-war outbreak, highlighted the collaborative effort between men and women underground, engaging in tasks like cleaning and upkeep together. The work environment remains tense, with the constant threat of war looming as air raid sirens interrupt lunch breaks. Despite the challenges posed by Russian attacks on energy infrastructure, including power stations, the miners persevere, ensuring preparedness for potential blackouts.
As Ukraine navigates through the conflict’s fourth year, these women play a crucial role in sustaining energy production and powering essential services in the face of adversity, hopeful for a ceasefire agreement to bring an end to the ongoing turmoil.
There is hope that recent discussions between Trump, Putin, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy could lead to a peace agreement. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trump’s national security adviser Mike Waltz stated that in a call with Trump, Zelenskyy agreed to a “partial ceasefire against energy,” as reported in a joint White House statement. Zelenskyy later confirmed Ukraine’s readiness to implement this deal in a detailed post. The call took place the day after Trump spoke with Putin, who did not endorse a 30-day ceasefire agreed upon by Zelenskyy. However, a Kremlin readout of their conversation indicated that the Russian leader agreed to “mutually refrain from strikes on energy infrastructure for 30 days.” Moskalenko expressed the desire for the peace agreement to come to fruition, emphasizing the importance of hope and belief in making it happen.
