Launched TUESDAY February 5, 2019 on www.zReportage.com Story #693: AMAZONS OF THE UKRAINE - The number of female soldiers in Ukraine's military has risen sharply after Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea. Since the beginning of the Ukraine War, women have played a key role for Ukraine's armed forces. They have served on the front lines as infantry, combat medics, and even snipers. Women also help sustain the war effort from the home front as civilian volunteers by procuring vital supplies and equipment and delivering them to the front lines. Some of the female fighters are only 22 years old, many of them have been fighting against Russia since they were as young as 18. The tensions in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in the Ukraine are evident with frequent exchanges of gun fire. According to the United Nations the war has led to the deaths of an estimated 13,000 people since 2014, including civilians, Ukrainian troops, separatists, Russian servicemen and members of pro-Kiev militias. Due to heavy daily shelling, many towns near the front lines are now practically empty.
© David Tesinsky/ZUMA Wire

January 8, 2018 - Donetsk, Ukraine - OLEKSANDRA MARSHAL (R) stands at a checkpoint near the fighters headquarter in Donetsk. Oleksandra has 2 children and helps in the kitchen feeding the troops.
© David TesinskyZUMA Wire

February 5, 2018 - Donetsk, Ukraine - An AK47 rifle rests on the car dashboard as soldiers are on the way to the front lines of the war, where an attack and shooting might start any moment. Women are also fighting the war in the east of Ukraine, in both the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Some of the fighters are only 22 years old, many of them are fighting against Russia since they were 18yrs. The tensions in the Donetsk and Luhansk region, Ukraine are very evident with regular shooting.
© David TesinskyZUMA Wire

January 7, 2018 - Luhansk, Ukraine - A Ukrainian Soldier offers a real hand gun to a young child. Women are fighting the war in the east of Ukraine, in both the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Some of the fighters are only 22 years old, many of them have been fighting against Russia since they were just 18 years old The tensions in the Donetsk and Luhansk region, Ukraine are very evident with regular exchanges of gunfire.
© David Tesinsky/ZUMA Wire

January 8, 2018 - Donetsk, Ukraine - Armed with an AK47 and wearing a balaclava, Yulia Tolopa points her weapon toward the frontline. Yulia was born and raised Russian. She was fond of sports, and won the championship of Russia in assault hand-to-hand fighting. At the beginning of the war, she volunteered for the Aydar battalion to help her Ukrainian friends who decided to defend their country and fight. By her act she wanted to prove that she condemns the policy of the Russian government and aggression against Ukraine. Yulia fought in the hottest spots of the East of Ukraine, first as a striker, then as an aerial reconnaissance officer. She was wounded twice, and bruised seven times. Yulia is on the wanted list of the Federal Security Service of Russia (FSB), with three criminal cases opened against her. After her decision to defend Ukraine, Yulia lost her family's support and her parents agreed to facilitate her detention in the territory of the Russian Federation. Now she has started a new family with a little daughter who was born in Ukraine and lives in Kyiv with friends. Yulia decided to stay in Ukraine forever and to applied for the Ukrainian citizenship.
© David TesinskyZUMA Wire

February 5, 2018 - Donetsk, Ukraine - Inside one of the Ukrainian fighters headquarters in Donetsk region. Women are also fighting the war in the east of Ukraine, in both the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Some of the fighters are only 22 years old, many of them are fighting against Russia since they were 18yrs. The tensions in the Donetsk and Luhansk region, Ukraine are very evident with regular exchanges of gunfire.
© David TesinskyZUMA Wire

January 8, 2018 - Donetsk, Ukraine - Standing among golden fall leaves, Yulia prepares for a gunfight. YULIA TOLOPA (22 years old), a citizen of Russia, volunteered for the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Yulia came to Ukraine when the Revolution of Dignity began because she did not believe Russian propaganda, She wanted to see events with her own eyes. At the beginning of the war, she volunteered for the Aydar battalion to help her Ukrainian friends who decided to defend their country. By her act she wanted to prove that she condemns the policy of the Russian government and aggression against Ukraine. Yulia fought in the hottest spots of the East of Ukraine, first as a striker, then as an aerial reconnaissance officer and has been wounded twice. Yulia is on the wanted list of the Federal Security Service of Russia (FSB), with three criminal cases opened against her. After her decision to defend Ukraine, Yulia lost her family's support and her parents agreed to facilitate her detention in the territory of the Russian Federation. Now she has started a new family with a little daughter who was born in Ukraine and lives in Kyiv with friends. Yulia decided to stay in Ukraine has applied for the Ukrainian citizenship.
© David Tesinsky/ZUMA Wire

January 8, 2018 - Donetsk, Ukraine - YULIA TOLOPA (22 years old) a citizen of Russia, who volunteered for the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Yulia was born and raised Russian. She was fond of sports, and won the championship of Russia in assault hand-to-hand fighting. At the beginning of the war, she volunteered for the Aydar battalion to help her Ukrainian friends who decided to defend their country and fight. By her act she wanted to prove that she condemns the policy of the Russian government and aggression against Ukraine. Yulia fought in the hottest spots of the East of Ukraine, first as a striker, then as an aerial reconnaissance officer. She was wounded twice, and bruised seven times. Yulia is on the wanted list of the Federal Security Service of Russia (FSB), with three criminal cases opened against her. After her decision to defend Ukraine, Yulia lost her family's support and her parents agreed to facilitate her detention in the territory of the Russian Federation. Now she has started a new family with a little daughter who was born in Ukraine and lives in Kyiv with friends. Yulia decided to stay in Ukraine forever and to applied for the Ukrainian citizenship.
© David Tesinsky/ZUMA Wire

February 5, 2018 - Kiev, Ukraine - OLYA BENDA with her son in her apartment in Kiev. She worked as a cook in one of the military brigades. She was wounded during the bombardment in the city of Avdeevka and now has a prosthetic leg. After the amputation of the foot, she returned to active life. Olya got married and brought up her son in Kyiv, Ukraine. Women are also fighting the war in the east of Ukraine, in both the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Some of the fighters are only 22 years old, many of them are fighting against Russia since they were 18yrs. The tensions in the Donetsk and Luhansk region, Ukraine are very evident with regular shooting.
© David Tesinsky/ZUMA Wire

February 5, 2018 - Luhansk, Ukraine - Both female and male soldiers are returning to the conflict zone and cheer the soldiers that are coming back to their homes from the front line. Women are fighting the war in the east of Ukraine, in both the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Some of the fighters are only 22 years old, many of them are fighting against Russia since they were just 18. The tensions in the Donetsk and Luhansk region, Ukraine are very evident with regular exchanges of gunfire.
© David TesinskyZUMA Wire

January 8, 2018 - Female soldier OLEKSANDRA MARSHAL brushes her teeth outdoors at the military headquarters. She stays at the checkpoint at the headquarter in Donetsk region where she helps in the kitchen. She has 2 children. Women are fighting the war in the east of Ukraine, in both the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Some of the fighters are only 22 years old, many of them are fighting against Russia since they were just 18 years old.
© David Tesinsky/ZUMA Wire

January 8, 2018 - Donetsk, Ukraine - OLEKSANDRA MARSHAL (R) stands at a checkpoint near the fighters headquarter in Donetsk. Oleksandra has 2 children and helps in the kitchen feeding the troops.
© David TesinskyZUMA Wire

performs combat missions, renders the first medical aid to the wounded. Nana has a family and three children back in the Georgia.
© David TesinskyZUMA Wire

February 5, 2018 - Luhansk region, Ukraine - MAJOR OLEG is well know fighter between all the military bases where the women soldiers are serving. Luhansk region, Ukraine. Women are also fighting the war in the east of Ukraine, in both the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Some of the fighters are only 22 years old, many of them are fighting against Russia since they were 18yrs. The tensions in the Donetsk and Luhansk region, Ukraine are very evident with regular exchange of gunfire.
© David TesinskyZUMA Wire

January 8, 2018 - Donetsk, Ukraine - Yulia share a warm moment with her fellow soldier colleague. YULIA TOLOPA (22 years old) is a Russian citizen, who volunteered with the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Yulia was born and grew up in Russia. She was fond of sports, and won the championship of Russia in assault hand-to-hand fighting. She came to Ukraine when the Revolution of Dignity began because she did not believe Russian propaganda, She wanted to see real events with her own eyes. With the beginning of the war, she volunteered to the Aydar battalion to help her Ukrainian friends who, who love and defend their country and fight for freedom. By her act she wanted to prove that she condemns the policy of the Russian government and aggression against Ukraine. Yulia fought in the hottest spots of the East of Ukraine, first as a striker, then as an aerial reconnaissance officer. She was wounded twice, and seven times bruised. Yulia is on the wanted list of the Federal Security Service of Russia (FSB), with three criminal cases opened against her. After her decision to defend Ukraine, Yulia lost her family's support, her parents agreed to facilitate her detention in the territory of the Russian Federation. Her current family is a little daughter who was born in Ukraine and lives in Kyiv with the friends. Yulia decided to stay in Ukraine forever and to applied for the Ukrainian citizenship.
© David TesinskyZUMA Wire

February 5, 2018 - Donetsk, Ukraine - Yulia with her prized drone, which she uses to to map the Russian territories. YULIA TOLOPA (22 years old). Yulia, who was born and raised in Russia, came to Ukraine when the Revolution of Dignity began because she did not believe Russian propaganda, She wanted to events with her own eyes. At the beginning of the war, she volunteered for the Aydar battalion to help her Ukrainian friends who decided to defend their country and fight. By her act she wanted to prove that she condemns the policy of the Russian government and aggression against Ukraine. Yulia fought in the hottest spots of the East of Ukraine, first as a striker, then as an aerial reconnaissance officer. She was wounded twice, and bruised seven times. Yulia is on the wanted list of the Federal Security Service of Russia (FSB), with three criminal cases opened against her. After her decision to defend Ukraine, Yulia lost her family's support and her parents agreed to facilitate her detention in the territory of the Russian Federation. Now she has started a new family with a little daughter who was born in Ukraine and lives in Kyiv with friends. Yulia decided to stay in Ukraine forever and to applied for the Ukrainian citizenship.
© David TesinskyZUMA Wire

performs combat missions, renders the first medical aid to the wounded. Nana is married and has a family with three children back in the Georgia.
© David TesinskyZUMA Wire

performing combat missions, and giving medical aid to the wounded.
© David TesinskyZUMA Wire

January 8, 2018 - Donetsk, Ukraine - YULIA MYKYTENKO, married and 22 years old, is a Ukrainian, soldier and reconnaissance platoon commander. At the inception of the military conflict in the East of Ukraine, Yulia felt compelled to be useful to her country, Despite the fact that by education Yulia is a philologist, she volunteered to the Ukrainian army. During the execution of one of the combat missions, Yulia met her future husband. After marriage, she continued her military service to protect her homeland next to her husband in one battalion. Due to her personal qualities, courage and professionalism, Yulia became the platoon commander of the reconnaissance platoon when she was just 21 years old.
© David TesinskyZUMA Wire