The Ukrainian Feminist Network for Freedom and Democracy was invited to participate in the closing event of Women’s Solidarity Week 2026—a safe space for discussion titled “Is There Still a Place for Feminism in the Contemporary Women’s Movement?” The event, which served as a platform for critical reflection on the state of women’s activism in Ukraine, was organized by the Kharkiv women’s association “Sphere” with the support of Kvinna till Kvinna.
Experts and activists representing various strands of the movement took part in this professional discussion: Natalia Sukhorukova (Kharkiv Regional State Administration), Olga Yashchenko (“Feminist Workshop”), Anastasia Gerasymenko (“Women’s March”), Tetiana Chernetska (Centre of Gender Culture), and Hanna Hrytsenko (website “Tovaryshka”)
The main topic of discussion was an analysis of the current state of the Ukrainian women’s movement. The participants noted that the movement is not homogeneous—it is a collection of different currents, each with its own specific history and internal dynamics.
While discussing strategies for cooperation, the representatives of the organizations emphasized the importance of synergy. The issues of internal conflicts and “red flags” were also part of the dialogue. The participants agreed that in the activist community, the best strategy for responding to disagreement is building trust and transparency in communication.
At the conclusion of the meeting, key areas of focus for the coming period were identified. The participants discussed the need to maintain a feminist agenda in public policy, protect women’s rights in recovery efforts, and strengthen networking among different sectors of the movement.
We are sincerely grateful to the NGO “Sphere” for organizing this important dialogue and for the opportunity to meet in person with our sisters to share successes and challenges.