War and activism: a conversation with Maria Berlinska

Join us for a conversation with veteran of the Russo-Ukrainian war Maria Berlinska. Maria Berlinska leads Victory Drones, a volunteer project run by the Dignitas charitable foundation, and serves as the Director of the Aerial Reconnaissance Support Centre, Kyiv. Berlinska was a prominent participant in the Revolution of Dignity 2013-14 and subsequently took on an active role as a volunteer in the war in eastern Ukraine. Berlinska has partnered with servicewomen, veterans, and scholars to advocate for women’s rights in the Ukrainian Armed Forces. She coordinated Invisible Battalion, a series of three reports on Ukrainian women in the military, and produced two films about women veterans in collaboration with women filmmakers. Her advocacy led to changes in Ukrainian legislation that gradually improved women’s rights in the Ukrainian army. Berlinska is also a co-founder of the Women’s Veteran Movement, a senior advisor for a veteran reintegration program, and a recipient of multiple awards for her contributions to the war effort. She will be in conversation with Olesya Khromeychuk.