Globe and Mail journalist Janice Dickson tells the story of Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine through the experiences of women—soldiers, nuclear workers, and others—across the country.

On February 24, 2022, Ukrainians were jolted awake by the sound of explosions. Russia had launched a full-scale invasion of their country, sending missiles crashing into homes and soldiers pouring across the border. But as the world watched in horror, Ukrainians remained defiant.

Over the course of half a dozen reporting trips to Ukraine, Globe and Mail journalist Janice Dickson met women who took up combat positions, those who worked to disrupt Russian advances while living under occupation and women who continued to fight despite enduring heartbreaking loss.

Dickson travelled extensively throughout the country and spoke with dozens of women, meeting combat medics near the front line in Kharkiv, teachers in an underground school in Zaporizhzhia, and a woman demining a village outside of Kyiv. She met others in their homes, cafes, or the place she rented in Kyiv. Many spoke for hours, casting their mind back to recount battles or the early days of the full-scale invasion.

Told in sequence, readers are taken on an emotional journey, with stories that span more than three years of war and come together to form a gripping account of bravery and humanity.