On 12 March 2026, Bohdana Batsko, Project Assistant of the Spanien- und Lateinamerika-Partnerschaftsprogramm at the Transatlantic Dialogue Center, published a column in Opinión 51 (a Mexico-based subscription digital journalism platform led by female columnists) reflecting on the civic reflex that connects Ukrainian and Mexican society in moments of crisis.
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Batsko argues that, despite the geographic distance, both societies share a similar instinct to self-organize, build horizontal networks, and protect one another — often faster than institutions can respond. She describes 24 February 2022 as a societal rupture for Ukrainians: “we woke up to explosions.” Yet the initial paralysis quickly turned into a practical question — “what is my role?” — triggering mass mobilization: evacuation routes, supplies for the army, support for displaced people, translation, and fundraising.
A key point in the column is that this mobilization did not emerge out of nowhere. Batsko traces it to Ukraine’s long tradition of grassroots organization and “healthy distrust” toward abusive power, including the legacy of the 1990 Granite Revolution. She also notes how war expands civic responsibilities dramatically — beyond human rights work, gender equality advocacy, and oversight of public spending — to supporting veterans, displaced women, and bottom-up reconstruction, all while living in constant uncertainty.
The text also highlights the gendered impact of war and women’s leadership: occupation has intensified risks for women and girls, yet women are not passive victims. Batsko points to women’s growing role in security and management decisions, including the fact that over “70,000” women currently serve in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, while many also sustain families financially and lead community resilience.
Read the full Opinión 51 column via the Link.
This project was supported by the International Renaissance Foundation.
Also read:
Oleksandr Slyvchuk and Alina Rohach on Imagen Radio: Why Ukraine’s “Long War” Requires More Than Symbolic Support
Alina Rohach for Azteca Noticias: Why the Abduction of Ukrainian Children Must Be Treated as a Central Humanitarian Emergency
