When personal strength becomes a support for the community
“I was 14 when in 2014 war first came to our land. I remember January 19 – probably the last day when Donbas was united and peaceful…”, recalls Albina Lagutina, a gender equality specialist at the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in the Donetsk region.
In 2016, then still a schoolgirl, she first thought about her future. The war took away from her family everything that they had created over the years, and the girl realized: she wanted to choose a profession that would bring stability and that no tragedies would break. That is how the State Emergency Service of Ukraine appeared in Albina’s life.
Before the full-scale invasion, the girl had completed her studies at the university and, full of dreams and plans, was already working as an inspector of the emergency prevention department in her native Kostyantynivka. Albina inspected enterprises, institutions and organizations of the city for compliance with fire and technogenic safety requirements, analyzed the risks of emergency situations, conducted explanatory work among the population and employees of enterprises. She also monitored the implementation of civil protection measures, in particular the availability of evacuation plans, warning systems and engineering protection, ensuring the readiness of communities and facilities for possible threats.
On February 24, 2022, everything changed. Despite fear and uncertainty, Albina Lagutina resolutely got down to work. Participation in the evacuation of people from Mariupol, Kramatorsk, Pokrovsk, assistance to victims and their families - amidst chaos and pain, the girl felt the true power of female resilience. The war became a challenge that she had to overcome. “That was the first time I felt that war was not somewhere out there. It was here, in my city, among my people,” says Albina.
Later, Albina and her colleagues were evacuated to Dnipro. There she also showed her organizational skills, helping the State Emergency Service employees provide humanitarian support. And in 2023, together with her team, the girl returned to the Donetsk region, ready to continue her service and support those who need it most.
With faith in the importance of each of her steps
Albina Lagutina's life experience became a solid foundation for professional activity and the implementation of changes within the organization. With faith in the importance of each of its steps, in November 2023, the team of the Donetsk SES from Kostyantynivka began fruitful cooperation with the Coalition 1325 Donetsk. The first thing the rescuers did then was develop a safety audit and conduct a risk assessment at facilities and in communities. Since then, the service has been actively working on implementing important changes in the community, in particular, ensuring equal participation of women in units and in leadership positions, as well as creating safe conditions for women and children during evacuations and in temporary accommodation points. In addition to operational work, the Kostyantynivka SES pays special attention to the prevention of discrimination and violence, as well as training personnel on gender equality. An important area has been support for the restoration of critical infrastructure and assistance in the reintegration of internally displaced persons, including many women and children.
For displaced persons, women and people from other vulnerable groups, SES employees organize evacuation and further safe accommodation, take care of priority needs and provide psychological support. In working with victims of violence, the service adheres to the principles of confidentiality and respect, facilitating access to comprehensive professional assistance. Special care is paid to children, people with disabilities and the elderly, who need the most support in difficult times.
During 2023-2025, the SES team conducted gender-sensitive staff training and worked with vulnerable groups. Such a comprehensive approach demonstrates that even in difficult conditions, an organization can remain effective, people-oriented and responsible, implementing the principles of resolution 1325 in practice.
The real strength of the organization is in the people
“We worked under constant shelling, during evacuations and tragedies, when people died, and ahead there was only ruins and chaos. But our team stayed together, supported each other and helped the victims, regardless of our own fears and dangers,” says Albina. “All this proves that the real strength of the organization is not in technology or procedures, but in people, in their resilience and teamwork.”
In the near future, in cooperation with the 1325 Coalition, the Donetsk SES plans to strengthen civil protection and community security measures, conduct training for personnel and the population, improve local action plans and security audits. Rescuers also strive to more actively implement the principles of gender equality and inclusion in the activities of the units, ensure equal participation of women and men in leadership positions, and support people from vulnerable groups.
“The willingness of my colleagues to stand side by side in the darkest moments has become for me an example of resilience and mutual support. This is a strength that cannot be described in words. It must be felt,” says Albina Lagutina.
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