About this Event
Russia’s war against Ukraine did not begin in 2022. For more than a decade, Ukrainians have lived with occupation, displacement and war. It has also become a war that lasted longer than WW1.
The devastation has forced millions of Ukrainians from their homes, separated families, and sent workers into the armed forces. Air raids and missile attacks have become part of everyday life. During my own visit to Ukraine, I experienced first-hand something of the psychological impact of living under the constant threat created by Russian imperialist aggression.
Yet Ukrainians continue trying to maintain ordinary life in extraordinary circumstances. Workers are organising not simply around wages and working conditions, but in the midst of a war that shapes every aspect of their struggle. Ukraine faces shortages of skilled workers, immense pressure on public services, and severe challenges across healthcare and education.
These questions will not disappear when the fighting ends. Ukraine has accumulated enormous debts, while discussions about reconstruction increasingly treat the country’s recovery as an investment opportunity. Who will pay for reconstruction? What will happen to workers’ rights and public services? And what kind of Ukraine will emerge from the war?
Women have also faced particular pressures through displacement, caring responsibilities, violence and the burden of sustaining essential services during wartime and reconstruction.
This discussion will look at the situation facing Ukrainian workers and communities, the effects of war on women and public services, and why international solidarity with Ukraine must also mean solidarity with its working class.
If you are curious about Ukraine beyond the headlines and want to discuss these questions, come along and join the conversation.
Methodist Central Hall - Room 12
Event venue & nearby stays
Methodist Central Hall, Oldham Street, Manchester, United Kingdom
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