Stories of peace guardians
Ukrainian women play a key role in defending their country, with many serving directly on the front lines. Their courage and determination are inspiring, but they also face immense challenges. We would like to share with you what inspired us to create the Peace guardians initiative:
Darina
Smolnikov"Rina"
” Military medics support cryopreservation of reproductive cells.”
Darina Smolnikova , lieutenant of the National Guard of Ukraine, former medic of the evacuation company, officer of the medical intelligence service, activist in the field of reform of the regulation of the legal framework and administration in the healthcare system of military personnel.
She was born in 1999. She joined the army when she was 22. After the Russian invasion began, she served as a doctor in an evacuation company. She participated in major operations, including the defense of Moshun , Bakhmut , and Soledar.
Rina met with our fund representatives at the World Forum in Davos in January 2025. She shared her views on cryopreservation of women’s eggs.
For her and her fellow soldiers on the front lines, cryopreservation of reproductive cells is the only way out, she says, as their reproductive health is significantly threatened by the war.
Many of her fellow fighters would like to be mothers, but they face physical and psycho -emotional risks every day. They are aware of the high probability of losing their reproductive function, so it is an important priority for them to freeze their eggs so that they do not lose the chance to have a child in the future.
the procedure of cryopreservation of eggs and embryos is not only time-consuming and medically dificult, but also very expensive. The cost of the entire procedure is around 2,000 euros, making it unaffordable for struggling women.
V nasledujúcom videu si môžete ešte viac priblížiť príbehy ukrajinských žien, ktoré zohrávajú kľúčovú úlohu v obrane svojej krajiny. Prostredníctvom ich osobných výpovedí uvidíte odvahu a odhodlanie, s ktorými čelia náročným podmienkam na fronte aj v zázemí. Tieto ženy dokazujú, že vojna nie je len mužskou záležitosťou, ale spoločným bojom za slobodu a budúcnosť. Video približuje výcvik a pocity žien bojujúce za bezpečie neba nad svojou domovinou.
What inspired us
Let's save the future life of Ukraine
The aggressor’s war significantly affected the demographic development of Ukraine. In 2024, the mortality rate exceeded the number of newborns by almost three times.
One of the main reasons for the demographic decline is the widespread war, migration and the resulting low birth rate. Millions of Ukrainians were forced to leave the country. Many people died in the war and even more were injured, which affected their ability to have children.
Currently, Ukraine is on the verge of demographic collapse, and ignoring this situation threatens the existence of Ukraine as a nation. According to the forecast of the Institute of Demography, in 2050 the population of Ukraine may decrease to 25 million people, from the current 37 million (in 2023).
It is the outline of the threat that will face national security, the economy – and the entire future of Ukraine.
The future of Ukraine needs protection and support!
Preservation of the country’s genetic pool and reproductive health are of absolute strategic importance. In conditions of war, when thousands of Ukrainians have lost their health or lives, cryopreservation of reproductive cells becomes one of the few ways to ensure the future of the nation. Without cryopreservation , many Ukrainian families will be left without the opportunity to have children after serious injuries or the death of one of the partners.
The ability to preserve biomaterial until the moment it can be used guarantees the possibility of restoring Ukraine’s demographic potential.
To date, there is a publicly funded program for cryopreservation ( vitrification ) of sperm from male military personnel. Preservation of female eggs or embryos is a more complex and much more expensive procedure, which cannot be financed from the Ukrainian budget in wartime conditions.
Our humanitarian collection provides funds for the cryopreservation of eggs and embryos for Ukrainian women , the carriers of life involved to wars.
Ukrainian women in the context of war
Currently, there are over 68,000 women serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, of which 5,000 are directly deployed in combat. We would like to highlight the all-female battalion, known as ”The Witches of Bucha” and “Valkyries”. As part of past activities, we provided these brave women with a gift of 35 women’s ballistic plates made in Slovakia.
The war has also forced a large part of the population to flee their homes and even the country. According to official UN figures, more than 5 million women and children have been forced to leave the country as a result of the conflict.
Support these brave women through our fundraising campaign. Every contribution matters and helps provide the necessary equipment so they can continue protecting their communities and their country.
