39 Women's hundred of Self-defense of the Maidan

The 39 Women's Hundred of Self-Defense of the Maidan (39 Жіноча сотня Самооборони Майдану) is a Ukrainian women's self-defense and volunteer formation created in mid-January 2014 on the basis of the women's squad of the 11th Hundred, and approved by the Council of the Sotnyks of Maidan Self-Defense. It was based at the Trade Unions Building, the Officers' House and the Ukrainian House in Kyiv. Within days of its creation it numbered more than 150 participants, and it later claimed representatives in the regions and thousands of Ukrainian women. Its commander (sotnytsia) was Anna Kovalenko. The unit took part in the confrontations of 18–22 February 2014, stood guard on the barricades, patrolled the Maidan and surrounding territory, and received training in first aid, legal and psychological matters, the types of gases and the basics of street confrontation, including the use of gas masks. During the February events, 40 women moved from the stage on Maidan Nezalezhnosti to the government quarter; the 39th Hundred took a position at the corner of Hrushevskoho Street and Kripostnyi Lane near Mariinskyi Park, between those fighting in the park and peaceful activists and passers-by, and provided first aid. They helped organize a medical point in the Officers' House and brought wounded there. Later the 39th Hundred, together with the 14th and 12th Hundreds, tried to break the police blockade from Instytutska Street, but had to retreat; the women split into groups, some remaining in the Officers' House to care for the wounded and dead, some blocked in a basement on Hrushevskoho Street, and some retreating as far as the Arsenalna metro station. They later gathered at the Trade Unions building and left before the fire. There were no fatalities in the 39th Women's Hundred, but there were wounded. After the Revolution of Dignity, in 2015–2016 the 39th Women's Hundred was active in logistics and informational cooperation with self-defense representatives and activists in the regions, organizing meetings and round tables in various Ukrainian cities with women who had joined or wished to join self-defense. It promoted the role of women in building a new country and generation, opposed the traditional role of women, and advanced feminist ideas. It conducted public work, helped internally displaced persons with resettlement, and organized social actions. The Hundred repeatedly faced propaganda attacks from Russian media accusing participants of sabotage and terrorism, after which it drew up a plan for participation in the information war. A number of participants took part in the Anti-Terrorist Operation in eastern Ukraine. On the initiative of commander Anna Kovalenko, and with the support of the Ministry of Defense, a Center for Coordination of Operational Assistance to the Ukrainian Army was created on the basis of the Hundred, along with a hotline to establish communication and coordination between checkpoints and volunteers.

The 39 Women's Hundred of Self-Defense of the Maidan was created in mid-January 2014 on the basis of the women's squad of the 11th Hundred and was approved by the Council of the Sotnyks of Maidan Self-Defense. It was based at the Trade Unions Building, the Officers' House and the Ukrainian House. Within days of its creation the 39th Hundred numbered more than 150 participants; it later had representatives in the regions and claimed thousands of Ukrainian women. Its commander was Anna Kovalenko. Women in the Hundred took part in the confrontations of 18–22 February 2014. At other times, like other hundreds, they stood guard on the barricades and took part in patrolling the Maidan and the surrounding territory. They underwent training in first aid, as well as with lawyers and psychologists, studied the types of gases and the basics of street confrontation, and acquired skills in using gas masks. They took part in Maidan Self-Defense marches. During 18–22 February, the Hundred took part in the events of 18 February. Together with other hundreds of Maidan Self-Defense, 40 women went from the stage on Maidan Nezalezhnosti to the government quarter. Each hundred took its positions there, including the 39th Hundred at the corner of Hrushevskoho Street and Kripostnyi Lane on the side of Mariinskyi Park. The women were between those fighting in the park and peaceful activists and casual passers-by. They provided first aid. They helped organize a medical point in the Officers' House and delivered wounded there. Later the 39th Hundred tried to break the police blockade together with the 14th and 12th Hundreds from the side of Instytutska Street. But the police went on the offensive, and the 39th Hundred had to retreat. The women returned to their starting position at the Officers' House, until the security forces remaining on Hrushevskoho Street went on the offensive. Then in the crowd the women split into groups. Some remained in the Officers' House and cared for the wounded and dead. Some were blocked in a basement on Hrushevskoho Street, and some retreated as far as the Arsenalna metro station. Later all gathered at the Trade Unions building. They left the premises before the fire. Some of the women were evacuated in view of the usefulness coefficient. A significant number remained on the front line, helped the wounded, and prepared means of resistance. Another part organized in St. Michael's Cathedral and the Kostel. There were no fatalities in the 39th Women's Hundred. There were wounded. Sotnytsia Anna Kovalenko was 23 years old, a theater scholar by education, a host on Radio Era and an adviser to the Minister of Defense. She took part in protest actions on the Maidan even before the dispersal of students on 30 November. At first she did hourly broadcasts for Radio Era, then began independently patrolling the Maidan and surrounding territories. She helped create a plan for the defense of administrative buildings from an assault by security forces. Later she became deputy of the 11th sotnyk. After that she organized the 39th Women's Hundred of Maidan Self-Defense. Most participants before joining the Hundred were volunteers in the kitchen, in the medical unit, or worked in the information center. There were also those who came with the aim of being on the barricades and taking part in active actions. The youngest participant was 18, the oldest 65. Desyatnytsias included Nadiya "Akula", Olena Rebryk, Dyka, Svitlana "Donetsk", Alisa, Yuliya "Kazhan", Katya, Olena "Blonda", Natalka "Moskal", Yuliya "Mat", Tetyana "Boyova". From the beginning, participants of the Hundred gathered on the 2nd floor in the assembly hall of the Trade Unions Building. At night they could stay on the 7th floor in the disposition of the 11th Hundred. There was also a small headquarters in the Ukrainian House. After the fire in the Trade Unions Building, the 39th Hundred of Maidan Self-Defense occupied the premises of the Officers' House. After the Revolution of Dignity, in 2015–2016 the 39th Women's Hundred took an active part in conducting and creating logistics and informational cooperation with representatives and activists of self-defense in the regions. It organized meetings and round tables in various cities of Ukraine with women who had joined the self-defense or wished to do so. It explained the role of women in forming a new country and generation, being convinced that only an emancipated woman can give birth to a free person, opposed the traditional role of women, and was a leader of the feminist idea. It conducted public work, helped forced refugees with resettlement, and organized social actions. The Hundred was repeatedly subjected to propaganda attacks by Russian media, which accused participants of sabotage and terrorism. After that the Women's Hundred also drew up a plan for participation in the information war. A certain number of participants of the Hundred take part in the ATO in eastern Ukraine. On the initiative of sotnytsia Anna Kovalenko, on the basis of the Hundred and with the support of the Ministry of Defense, a Center for Coordination of Operational Assistance to the Ukrainian Army was created, as well as a hotline for establishing communication and coordination between checkpoints and volunteers.

• 2016

  Organized meetings and round tables in various Ukrainian cities with women who had joined or wished to join self-defense.

• 2015

  In 2015–2016, active in logistics and informational cooperation with self-defense representatives and activists in the regions.

• 2014

  Created in mid-January on the basis of the women's squad of the 11th Hundred and approved by the Council of the Sotnyks of Maidan Self-Defense.

• 2014

  Within days of creation, the 39th Hundred numbered more than 150 participants.

• 2014

  Took part in the confrontations of 18–22 February, providing first aid and holding positions near Mariinskyi Park.

• 2014

  After the fire in the Trade Unions Building, occupied the premises of the Officers' House.

A women-led volunteer self-defense and civic organization associated with the Maidan movement and later with support for Ukraine's defense and feminist civic activism.

1. 139 Women's hundred of Self-defense of the Maidanwikidata.org
2. 239 Жіноча сотня Самооборони Майдануuk.wikipedia.org