The Impact of Russia’s Full-Scale War on Women’s Political Participation in Ukraine

GRÓ GEST alumna Daryna-Mariia Zavhorodnia from Ukraine, recipient of the 2026 Vigdís Finnbogadóttir Award for Outstanding Final Assignment, will present her research on how Russia’s full-scale invasion has affected women’s political participation in Ukraine.

Daryna graduated from the GRÓ Gender Equality Studies and Training (GEST) Programme at the University of Iceland in May 2026. Her award-winning research, conducted under the academic supervision of Dr Aiko Holvikivi (London School of Economics and Political Science), examines the trajectories of Ukrainian women local councillors who left office following Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.

What happens when women who fought for a seat at the political table are forced to leave it, sometimes literally under threat of shelling? Do they remain politically active after giving up their mandates? Can their work in civil society, charitable foundations and volunteering be understood as forms of political participation?

This public event will present Daryna’s research findings and bring together academics, gender experts, members of parliament, representatives of Ukraine’s Central Election Commission, civil society experts and former local deputies for discussion.

📅 3 November 2026, 11:00 Kyiv time (GMT+2)

💻 Watch online with English interpretation: https://www.youtube.com/@UACrisisMediaCenter

Daryna is an analyst at the NGO Public Alliance “Political Action of Women”. Her research was carried out as part of the GRÓ GEST Programme at the University of Iceland.

🏆 Read more about Daryna’s award: https://www.grocentre.is/gest/media-gest/news/graduation-2026