The 20th edition of the European Union CBRN Centres of Excellence Newsletter — a publication dedicated to Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) risk mitigation — featured an article highlighting the resilience of Ukrainian women in the nuclear field. The authors of the article are Margaryta Rayets, President of WiN Ukraine, and Renata Iaresko, Director of Development, Communications, and PR at WiN Ukraine.
In the article, Margaryta and Renata share the challenges faced by women professionals in the nuclear industry during the full-scale war in Ukraine. These women found themselves navigating unprecedented conditions, ensuring nuclear safety not only in peacetime but also amid the chaos and danger of war. The pressure is immense — missiles constantly fly over nuclear facilities, posing a threat not just to Ukraine, but to the entire world, as radiation knows no borders.
At Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), women faced not only the horrors of war but also the harsh reality of occupation. Before they were able to evacuate to Ukrainian-controlled territory, they continued going to work every day, determined to prevent a nuclear disaster — even under threat to their own lives. These women remained at their posts, protecting the world while Russian occupiers turned the ZNPP into a tool of nuclear blackmail. Their work was further complicated by blocked access to workstations, severed communication with the central office in Kyiv, and threats of forced collaboration with Rosatom.
Despite this, these women continue to demonstrate unshakable resilience and commitment to their profession in the face of extreme adversity.
Women in the nuclear industry play a critical role in maintaining nuclear safety during wartime. They are not only breaking through long-standing barriers and stereotypes, but also carrying out their duties with unwavering professionalism and dedication. Their contribution is vital not only for Ukraine but for global security, as any nuclear incident could have devastating consequences worldwide.
Ukrainian women in nuclear energy prove that their presence and expertise are irreplaceable and essential to the safety of our shared future.
Read the article here: https://cbrn-risk-mitigation.network.europa.eu/publications/eu-cbrn-coe-newsletter-20-women-cbrn_en?prefLang=el
