Ukrainian women’s stories come to life in documentary performance “Diary of War: Women” in New York

The documentary play "Diary of War: Women" premiered at the Brooklyn Center for Theater Studies in New York. American actresses narrated the stories of Ukrainian women who endured a full-scale Russian invasion.

Ukrainian artist Daria Kolomiec's team reported that, according to Suspilne. Culture.

"Diary of War: Women" is a compelling performance evolving from the "Diary of War" documentary podcast by Ukrainian cultural activist and Time Magazine's Next Generation Leader, Daria Kolomiec, who is now bringing its narratives to the theatrical stages. The project captures the raw, emotional stories of Ukrainians impacted by the full-scale Russian invasion, offering a personal window into the war's devastating effects.

The "Diary of War" project was launched in 2022, with 41 Ukrainians sharing their personal accounts of the first weeks of the devastating war through voice recordings. When it was adapted for the theatrical stage in New York, seven stories of women were handpicked to be featured in the play.

The reading directed by Musa Gurnis featured accounts from seven courageous Ukrainian women:

• Iryna Tsybukh (call sign Cheka), a film producer and a project manager in civilian life, shares her work as a combat medic in the Hospitallers volunteer battalion, evacuating soldiers in hot spots on the front line. In May 2024, she was killed during her rotation.
• Tetyana Kuzmenko recounts her experiences living under Russian occupation in the Kyiv region, providing insight into the harsh realities of those times.
• Olena Nikulina: the wife of Maksym Nikulin, a soldier of the Azov Regiment. She describes learning about her second pregnancy while her husband was at the Azovstal factory surrounded by Russians. Since his capture, Olena has not heard from Maksym, and he has never met his son.
• Julia Kochetova: a photojournalist who regularly works in Ukraine's most dangerous places, reporting about Russian war crimes. She was awarded an Emmy in 2023 and a World Press Photo Award in 2024 for her work.
• Anastasia Shevchenko (STASIK): A singer, actress, and war veteran, Anastasia reflects on her experiences of hostilities and life before the full-scale war. Shortly after recording, she rejoined the army.
• Olha Bulkina describes her work as a volunteer clown at Kyiv's Ohmatdyt, the largest children's hospital in Ukraine, which was recently struck by a Russian missile.
• Valeria Mykhailovska describes her emotional journey from the Czech Republic to rescue her mother and dogs from Mariupol. Her story captures the brave risks taken and personal sacrifices made during the invasion.

Daria Kolomiec emphasized the depth of preparation required to bring these stories to life: "For meaningful work with this material, it was crucial that each actress not only understood the narrative but also felt a connection to what it means to be Ukrainian. I immersed them in the context of the ongoing war, showing them what it's like to fight for freedom, to live through invasion, and to navigate life in the middle of such devastation. Each actress learned about the personal backgrounds of the women they were portraying—what happened to them after they shared their stories, and how the war continues to impact their lives. I even shared the social media profiles of the original narrators to give a fuller picture of who these women are."

She continued, "What really amazed me was how deeply the actresses got involved during the charity auction. They didn't just perform; they became advocates, urging the audience to donate. Khali Sykes, for example, said this experience changed her life. She made sure all her family and friends now know about Ukraine, and we aim for a similar impact on everyone who hears these stories."

The reading was brought to life by a talented cast of actresses:

• Zuzanna Szadkowski ("Gossip Girl", "The Knick", "Girls") as Olena Nikulina
• Annabel Capper ("For Life", "New Amsterdam") as Tetyana Kuzmenko
• Merlinda Akindele as Iryna Tsybukh
• Tessa Weinland as Julia Kochetova
• Agnes Enkhtamir as Olha Bulkina
• Khali Sykes as Anastasia Shevchenko
• Tatienne Hendricks-Tellefsen as Valeria Mykhailovska

As the organizers have stated, the project aims to educate the American audience about the impact of the Russian war on Ukrainian citizens and shed light on the atrocities committed by the Russians. Additionally, the project seeks to engage the audience in showing their support for Ukraine through ideological means and donating to the Hospitallers medical battalion.

On the second day of the event, Ukrainian singer Maryna Krut performed a chamber concert in New York's Central Park to raise more funds for charity.

The organizers mentioned that they were able to gather over $11,000, which will be donated to "Hospitallers." Even though the events have ended, donations are still coming in for the cause.