Since the beginning of the war, Ukrainian women have been able to work in galleries

They were not welcome underground in Ukraine. Now, the presence of women is accepted for the war effort against Russia.

Russia is threatening to restart production of previously banned missiles, in retaliation for Ukrainian launches in Crimea. A Russian strike on a building in Dnipro left at least 12 dead on Friday, June 28.

The coal mine between Dnipro and Pokrovsk in Donbass, a few dozen kilometers from the front, is therefore a target of the Russian army, because coal is used to power the country’s thermal power stations. The location is strategic and kept secret. And since the start of the war, the rules have changed: previously forbidden to go down to the bottom, women can now work in the galleries.

The rock scrolls along the walls of the elevator. In total: 370 meters of descent. The air warms up, the humidity makes the bodies sweat. The doors open on Yevgenia’s smile. “I’ve been working for a year already. I came here to support our energy system because it is in critical condition and needs female workers”, explains this woman. For six hours, she manages the elevator journeys from the back.

“Even my trainer told me that it was not a job for a woman, but I managed to prove him wrong. For women, there is no difficult job. You can work anywhere.”

Two kilometers deep, at the bottom of a gallery, Nadiejda monitors the methane sensors. A vital work of which she is very proud. “It’s not our mission, to mine coal. But if I had to, I would do this job. For my children, I could do anything. There was teasing and mockery. For the guys here, a woman in the mine, it’s not possible. We showed that we know how to work, we proved to them. said Nadiejda.

It is the social conditions, advantageous, according to her, that they highlight. Katarina, a nursing assistant, is now trained to repair the machines. “I will contribute more quickly for retirement with the hardship. I have free coal for my home, a good salary. I can help my mother”, praises this former caregiver. But war and worry are never far away.

“My brother has been at the front for two years and three months and my husband has just been enlisted.”

All of them say they want to stay working here once the war is over. But chief engineer Anatoly believes that their presence should remain an exception, because the mine is dangerous. “We are trying to create the best conditions for women here. But it is certain that this is not a job for them, it is a job for men. God forgive me, but in the event of an accident, if You have to go and save the miners, walk for an hour and a half in the smoke, in the fire, it’s very dangerous. For that, you need physical strength and be morally ready.”concludes this man.

Women only accept one difference: that they be called “minors“, or small leaf miners, rather than miners.