Ukrainian women take on men's jobs

As Ukrainian men enlisted to fight, women took on jobs previously not intended for them.

Ukrainian law previously banned women from jobs considered dangerous, such as underground mining, forging hot metal and operating heavy machinery.

After Russia launched its campaign in Ukraine in February 2022, thousands of Ukrainian men left their jobs to join the army. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky declared martial law, suspending existing laws. The absence of Ukrainian men has forced women to take on jobs that require physical strength and are potentially dangerous.

Tetiana works underground in a mine in eastern Ukraine. Photo: CNN — Tetiana works underground in a mine in eastern Ukraine. Photo: *CNN*

Tetiana, 38, comes from a long line of coal miners. Her grandfather, father and uncle all worked in the mines, and as a child she dreamed of following in the family business.

Previously, working thousands of meters underground was not for Tetiana, so she worked above ground, in charge of monitoring methane levels in the tunnel.

As hundreds of miners left for military service, Tetiana's mining company began asking for female volunteers to work underground, and she was one of the first to volunteer.

Tetiana and 44 other female colleagues are working in a coal mine in eastern Ukraine and hope to still be able to do this job when the war ends.

The mine’s chief engineer, Oleksander, said that once the fighting in Ukraine is over, he believes women will return to work above ground and in other female-dominated jobs. But he also admitted that the mine could not continue without women like Tetiana.

Maria Kobets works in the blacksmith's workshop to replace her husband. Photo: CNN — Maria Kobets works in the blacksmith's workshop to replace her husband. Photo: *CNN*

In a town in northern Ukraine, Maria Kobets, 30, is another woman who has found herself in a job traditionally reserved for men. She spends her days working in her husband Andriy’s blacksmith shop after he left for the army.

Before the war, Andriy sold hundreds of dollars worth of metalwork to customers in the United States and Europe. When her husband was away, Kobets said her job was to keep the family business going.

"I often cry when I work in the forge. My husband is defending the country and is forced to be away from his family. This job helps me stand firm and not fall down," Kobets said.

Kobets said she enjoys working in the forge, but hopes to hand the business over to her husband when he returns.

"It's hard work, but interesting. I want to do it because I feel like I love it, not because I'm forced to," Kobets shared.

Ngoc Anh (According to CNN )

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