Published on November 4 in Bukvy media.
When you hear the word “sapper”, the image of a man in camouflage, who is concentrating on working on a minefield, appears in your mind. But in Ukraine, this stereotype is being destroyed, because more and more women are taking responsibility for the security of our country. In times of war, when many men are mobilized to the front, women become an equal part of the demining process, demonstrating courage, determination and professionalism.
Currently, women make up about 30% of all participants in mine action in Ukraine, as reported by the press service of the Ministry of Economy. In the Ukrainian Deminers Association (UDA), this indicator is even higher: 39 out of 99 employees are women, which is about 40% of the total staff. UDA is actively working to further increase this number by opening new positions for female sappers and engaging a gender advisor to develop internal policies that will create equal opportunities for all employees.
Despite the positive changes, women sappers still face prejudice and challenges. What prompts them to choose this dangerous path? What difficulties await them every day? We spoke to Svitlana Nagorna, head of the Non-Technical Survey of Territories (NTS) team, to hear her story — one that inspires and shows that stereotypes have no place on the battlefield.
— Where did you work before and why did you decide to engage in mine action?
— I have been working in UDA since February 2023. By education, I am a teacher of Ukrainian language and literature, and before that I worked as a program editor on television for four years. Over time, I began to feel that I was standing still, and a full-scale invasion pushed me to change.
One day, by chance, I saw a vacancy for an EORE instructor. Although it did not meet most of the requirements, teaching education became my advantage. I took a chance and sent my resume, and within 15 minutes I received a call inviting me to an interview. That’s how I became part of the NTS team, where I am now engaged in non-technical survey of territories and informing the population about the risks of explosive ordnance.
— What are the biggest challenges you face in your profession?
— One of the biggest challenges is emotional stress. I remember how, during my first rotation, I went to a de-occupied village, where I talked with the locals about mined areas. After an hour and a half conversation, I felt a huge burden from their stories about the horrors of the occupation and could barely hold back tears. These stories struck me so that for several days I could not recover. I realized that I need to distance myself, because the constant emotional load prevents me from working effectively. Although I try to take the situation more lightly, I still feel close to these stories.
Another challenge is working with explosive ordnance, which keeps you constantly in tension. If the object is familiar, you know how to act. But new items often cause fear – you never know how and when they might work. But is there a place in Ukraine where it is not scary?
— Have you experienced prejudice against women in mine action?
— Sometimes, when I communicate with officials, I feel mistrust. Some people, especially older men or women, look at me suspiciously at first: “What can this girl tell us?” But after a few meetings, that changes. I am constantly communicating, providing information, and gradually this improves the relationship.
— What is the biggest inspiration for you in your work?
— For me, the opportunity to directly participate in the detection and elimination of explosive ordnance is an inspiration. Every munition found means that the risk to the public is reduced. When I discover an area with dangerous objects, I know that soon it will be demined and the residents can return to normal life.
In addition, it is important to be able to develop through various courses and trainings. I appreciate that I can gain new knowledge, exchange experience with colleagues, and that UDA always supports my desire for improvement. Work for me is not only the fulfillment of duties, but also a chance to move forward and grow professionally.
Recently, as part of a joint project of the UDA and the Government of Canada, Svitlana, together with her colleagues – female sappers of the UDA, underwent a 5-week training at the leading school of sappers in Kosovo. The course was aimed at developing their leadership skills and preparing them for management roles in mine action. After completing the training, Svitlana and her colleagues will be able to hold leadership positions in the UDA, which will further strengthen their role in this extremely important and dangerous profession.
So we can say with confidence that female sappers are no longer the exception, but the new norm. The increase of their presence in mine action shows that professions are no longer divided into “male” and “female”. Today, only courage, skills and willingness to contribute to a common cause are important.
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