Nataliia, from the town of Baranivka in the Zhytomyr region, taught geography at school for many years. In 2022, after the start of the full-scale invasion, she and her friend founded the volunteer workshop “Warm the Defender”. At first, they made nets and trench candles. Later, it became a full-fledged support centre for the Armed Forces of Ukraine: fruit and nut mixes, energy bars, dry cereals, honey and vitamin mixes, anti-cold teas, canned food, and baked goods. Everything is for the needs of the military.

The workshop is open seven days a week. Every day, a dozen women aged 60+, teachers from a local lyceum who weave in between classes, young people, and children come here. All with the same goal: to support those holding the front line.

Nataliia coordinates the collection, purchases, and packaging. She often meets soldiers who receive vehicles, medicines or equipment. Before the war, her life was all about creativity: Motanka dolls, stone jewellery, painting. Today, this is also part of her volunteering: Nataliia sells her jewellery and paintings to raise money for the army. And at night, when the weaving is over, she returns to her favourite hobby to keep herself emotionally stable.

“I try to invest in what our defenders need today. But I dream of returning to three-dimensional painting when peace comes,” she says.