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Olga Shmaidenko

@riverflowsthroughit

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made in 🇺🇦 -> 🇨🇦 ->🗽
Founder, @wow.woman.official
a proud Ukrainian 🔈🇺🇦✊🏼💪🏼
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New in the “Inside Ukraine” series: Olga Polianska, Ukrainian Artist in Rivne 🇺🇦 The night before russia’s full-scale invasion, Olga Polianska was in her Rivne studio finishing an oil abstraction of flowers. At 4 a.m. she heard the rumble in the sky and knew. After spending three weeks sleeping in a basement, Olga felt the pull to return to work. Only her hands would no longer reach for oils. They reached for charcoal instead. Creating under conditions of war must be a maddening experience, as the need to express oneself competes daily with fear, anger and loss. Yet four and a half years into the full-scale war, Ukrainian artists continue to paint, sculpt, write and perform. They process trauma not only for themselves, but for the entire nation. Their work becomes evidence, therapy, resistance and hope, all at once. Invaders always come for culture first. They loot museums, bomb theaters, censor books, ban music and kill artists. That has been the pattern of russian aggression in Ukraine. They know perfectly well what history keeps proving: art is how a nation under attack refuses to disappear. Picasso’s Guernica made a bombed Basque town impossible to forget or deny. Vedran Smailović, the Cellist of Sarajevo, played Adagio in G minor for 22 consecutive days after civilians were killed while waiting in a breadline. Snipers couldn’t stop him. Ukraine’s artists are doing this work right now and paying for it. Olga remembers the 26-year-old painter Oleh Drobotsky, killed at the front, and Kostya Yuzvyuk, the volunteer who bought her war series to spread it abroad and was killed on a mission in 2024. Olga keeps painting anyway. She keeps organizing exhibitions and sheltering rescue animals (five cats, two dogs, and counting), because as she puts it, Ukrainians are like grapevines: they cling to a support and hold on to one another so the vine grows upward. This is Olga Polianska. Artist. WOW Woman. Keeper of Ukraine’s wartime experience. See the 🔗 in bio to read the interview with Olga Polianska. Proud to be Ukrainian 🇺🇦 #SlavaUkraini #СлаваУкраїні ✊🏼🇺🇦 📸 Olga Polianska @polianska.artist 🇺🇦👩🏼‍🔬 @riverflowsthroughit
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New in the Inside Ukraine series: Maria Varenikova, Journalist, Chronicler of War, Kyiv 🇺🇦 When russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Maria Varenikova didn’t leave. She stayed and went to work. A reporter for The New York Times, Maria has documented russia’s war against Ukraine from the tense months before the invasion through today. She carries its weight personally, with her own family in Kyiv as russia continues to bomb civilians. Maria has reported from the places that terrified the world. Bucha. Bakhmut. Zaporizhzhia. Many of the cities she covered have since been occupied or destroyed. For millions of readers, her reporting is the closest they will ever come to Ukraine. She speaks to people on the worst days of their lives and records their stories so the truth cannot be erased. She also embeds with soldiers on the front line, documenting war from inside it. In one dispatch, she described artillery troops spending days in freezing bunkers while wounded soldiers waited hours under enemy fire before medics could reach them, many developing hypothermia as they lay in the cold. In another unforgettable piece, Maria collected the messages Ukrainians sent their loved ones as the invasion began. Fear, love, and uncertainty, all compressed into a few lines of text. Maria loves Ukraine. Through her reporting, she wants the world to understand the depth, diversity, and humanity of her country. It is home. I’ve spent time reading through Maria’s body of work for The New York Times and compiled her articles below. Together, they document the anatomy of modern warfare and the crimes committed by the russian federation against Ukraine and its people. Maria helps millions understand a war too often reduced to headlines and statistics. Her reporting preserves the human stories behind the conflict and ensures they are not forgotten. That’s why she’s a WOW Woman. 🔗 Read my interview with Maria Varenikova. Link in bio. Proud to be Ukrainian! #SlavaUkraini #СлаваУкраїні ✊🏼🇺🇦 📸 Maria Varenikova @marichka_varenikova 🇺🇦👩🏼‍🔬 @riverflowsthroughit
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New in the “Inside Ukraine” series: Voices of the Killed - Kateryna Savenko’s Diary, Mariupol 🇺🇦 Immediately after russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, russian forces began shelling the port city of Mariupol, a strategic target for the kremlin and a personal obsession of putin. For nearly three months, russia bombed and besieged the city, destroying homes and apartment buildings and burying tens of thousands beneath the rubble (the exact toll remains unknown). This Inside Ukraine feature tells the story of one remarkable woman: Kateryna Savenko. Forever 42, Kateryna kept a thoughtful journal from the start of the invasion until March 29, when russians bombed her home and killed her husband Vitaliy. Severely injured, she survived six more days, dying on April 4 in her mother’s arms. Kateryna’s mother saved the diary notebooks, a Mariupol journalist @dedova_nataliya collected the diary pages, and Kateryna’s sister Nadiya Voloshyna gave permission to share her sister’s photos and diary images. I translated Kateryna’s words into English, building on an existing Ukrainian translation. As of June 17, 2026, four years and four months after the invasion began, Mariupol remains under russian occupation. The Ukrainian language is banned, russian passports are forced on residents, and pro-Ukrainian views can mean arrest, torture, or disappearance. Kateryna’s voice stands as a form of justice, documenting how atrocities like Mariupol were carried out by russian federation. 🔗 in bio to read Kateryna Savenko’s account of the horrors in Mariupol. 📸 permissions by Nadiya Voloshyna 🇺🇦👩🏼‍🔬 @riverflowsthroughit #standwithukraine #supportukraine #russiawarcrimes #russianwarcrimes #mariupol
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Fitspiration is not inspiring... It is often presented as “motivation” and “health”… but what happens when wellness culture starts normalising distress? As someone working in the eating disorder field, I often see “what I eat in a day” posts (does anyone else have a strong reaction to these?). I feel so sorry that my clients have to try and recover in a culture where exercising to “earn” food and pushing through exhaustion have become so normalised online that many people no longer recognise these behaviours as harmful 🥹 I have a lot more to say on this in my latest post. I’d love to hear your thoughts. link in bio and I made that coffee cup 🙂 #MentalHealth #Fitspiration #WellnessCulture #DietCulture #exerciseaddiction 📷 @riverflowsthroughit
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New in the “Inside Ukraine” series: Olga Lysa, Combat Medic, Armed Forces of Ukraine, Undisclosed Location 🇺🇦 A question was posted to Ukrainians serving in the Armed Forces: “What was something that broke your heart in the military?” One answer stayed with me: “When the mother of a missing brother-in-arms calls, asking for any information about her son, and you know he was killed by russia but cannot tell her. We are not allowed to share anything until the investigation is complete.” I clicked on the profile. It was a Ukrainian frontline medic, Olga Lysa. In 2022, when russia invaded Ukraine, Olga was nineteen and made a decision that changed her life. While many people her age were choosing universities and career paths, Olga chose to join the army. What may have begun as a young woman’s idea of heroism, borrowed from World War II films, became long days and over four years on the frontline in eastern Ukraine. Olga gave up having control over her time and gained the kind of responsibility where others’ lives depend on you. Olga is a combat medic and a hero; she treats the wounded, stabilizes them under fire, and fights to keep them alive. Through this work, she has earned the trust and respect of seasoned fighters. Olga is twenty-three now. Life on the front can harden a person, which is why it is that much more touching when glimpses of the young woman show through Olga’s writing. She desperately loves and worries about her dog. She hopes for simple moments that most people take for granted: a peaceful night of sleep, time in nature, a moment of solitude. She dreams of being able to belong to herself again. Olga’s reality is different from ours; her humanity and hope bring me to my knees with gratitude. Olga, thank you for your sacrifices and for the 🇺🇦 lives you have saved, the futures you have made possible with your courage. Your strength and your decision to keep going inspire me. See the 🔗 in bio for the full interview with Olga Lysa. Proud to be Ukrainian 🇺🇦 #slavaukraini #славаукраїнігероямслава ✊🏼🇺🇦 📸 @sigard ;photos provided by Olga Lysa @goldsummerr 🇺🇦👩🏼‍🔬 @riverflowsthroughit @wow.woman.official
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Today marks nine years since I launched The-Talk-it-Out-Express in 2017 and seven years since I formalised it, based on years of experience in various mental health and well-being projects with numerous institutions and NGOs. The main goal of this platform was to bridge the gap between what people say and what often remains unsaid because of social stigma, fear of judgment, maintaining a false image, or the desire to keep peace with family and friends. Over time, TiOE has grown into three main branches: 1. Personal Counselling, 2. Talk Buddies Club, and 3. structured Workshops for Corporations, Organisations, and Citizen Groups. The Talk Buddies Club (TBC) has become especially popular, while the other two branches continue to grow steadily. We sincerely thank our partners, associates, and everyone who has participated in our workshops and TBC events. Special thanks to @coachkajalkapur, @pen.mancy, @kunzum, @thebookbakers, @shetheshaktiofficial, @young_dragons_literary_hub, and my writer friends for their strong support over the years. Talk it Out and Keep Smiling! #talkitout #express #creativeexpression #talkbuddiesclub #letstalk We clicked hundreds of photos of TiOE/TBC events (including online ones taken during the Covid lockdown) over the years... we could only locate some and posted those.
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A small update: The Insta Live session this Saturday has been rescheduled to @sujataparashar. Everything else stays the same. #instalive #traveltalk #talkbuddiesclub
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Join us this Saturday at 4:00 p.m. for an InstaLive session @talkitout05 featuring two passionate women travellers and travel bloggers, Anjaly Thomas from Dubai and Olga Shmaidenko from Cape Town, as they discuss Travel In The Time Of War. #instalive #talkbuddiesclub #talkitout #traveltalk #traveltipsandtricks
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Join us on Saturday, April 18th, for an Insta Live session focusing on the important topic: Travel in the Time of War. We will be joined by two passionate and inspiring guest speakers, Anjaly Thomas from Dubai and Olga Shmaidenko from Cape Town, both experienced solo travellers and renowned travel writers. Looking forward to seeing you then!😊🌻 #instalive #travelinthetimeofwar #traveltipsandtricks #travelwriters
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The holiday season/Summer break is around the corner, but many of us remain unsure about our plans. The ongoing global situation complicates travel, creating a dilemma over whether to go or stay. To talk on this, Talk Buddies Club ( TBC) has chosen to host an Insta Live- a conversation with two passionate and inspiring women travellers who share their perspectives on travelling during wartime. Join us! Date: April 18, 2026 ( Saturday) Time: 4:00 pm IST Insta handle: https://www.instagram.com/talkitout05?igsh=MXFkM2t2YWJvbXZkbw== #travel #travelinthetimeofwar #traveltipsandtricks #travelblog #traveltalk
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New in the “Inside Ukraine” series: Olga Tesliak, Military Volunteer, Business Owner, Lviv 🇺🇦 Olga Tesliak runs what can only be described as her own “shtab,” a military volunteering headquarters built on experience, trust, and constant, hands-on work. From Lviv, she has created a system that supports roughly 22 military units on the front line, sourcing and delivering exactly what they need, when they need it. This is not symbolic support. This is operational. It requires speed, trust, and a level of competence that most people never have to develop. Women like Olga are a rare breed, but in Ukraine, they are not isolated. They are part of a vast, highly organized network of civilian volunteers that has become a backbone of the country’s defense. These networks move faster than institutions. They adapt in real time, learning about everything from drone systems to electronic warfare to tactical medicine. What women like Olga have built over the years is not just support. It is a parallel infrastructure that strengthens and sustains those on the front lines. But behind the personal sacrifices and time commitment is an intensity that is hard to grasp from the outside Ukraine. Olga runs a bakery that feeds people and creates moments of joy in the middle of war. Birthday and anniversary cakes are all small markers of life continuing. At the same time, she stays constantly connected to the needs of fighters, translating requests into action. She knows the details, the shortages, the urgency. She also knows loss. Many friends, brothers, people she has once helped send into battle, she has since buried. And still, she continues for those who are fighting. “I have no right to let them down or back down and stop.” This is why Olga is my WOW Woman inside Ukraine. See the 🔗 in bio for the full interview with Olga Tesliak. Proud to be Ukrainian 🇺🇦 #SlavaUkraini #СлаваУкраїні ✊🏼🇺🇦 📸 Olga Tesliak @oliatesliak 🇺🇦👩🏼‍🔬 @riverflowsthroughit
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New in the “Inside Ukraine” series: Marina Pleshcheieva, Electronic Warfare Specialist, Armed Forces, Undisclosed Location 🇺🇦 I first saw Marina Pleshcheieva in a video she posted. It started everything for me. The video tells a story without a single word. In it, Marina rolls up her sleeve and reveals a new tattoo on her upper arm. It is a tractor. In the next scene, she sits quietly in a military uniform, in front of a tombstone. On the stone is a man’s face. Beneath it is a tractor, identical to the one tattooed on her arm. The man is Marina’s father. He was deeply connected to Ukrainian land. When russia invaded, he enlisted to defend it. He died protecting it. russia killed him. Now Marina wears the army uniform. With a call sign “Mavka” she serves alongside tens of thousands of young Ukrainian men and women resisting russia’s full-scale invasion. Marina, who once worked in finance, now risks her life tracking, analyzing, and neutralizing threats in the sky, shielding Ukrainians from russian drones. She serves in the electronic warfare unit of the respected 93rd Brigade @93_brygada “Kholodnyi Yar”. Marina is responsible for intercepting footage from enemy drones. She sees exactly what russian operator on the other side sees and has to identify the location and relay the coordinates within seconds. What is remarkable is that Marina also runs a non-profit organization @kharkiv.4.5.0 that helps wounded veterans access rehabilitation services. Scanning her social media, you see it all: loss, pride, honour, and sacrifice. You also see love and care from her husband, her partner-in-arms, @stage_director_93 . Marina inspires and humbles us all to act. Her actions would certainly make her hero father very proud. See the 🔗 in bio for the full interview with Marina Pleshcheieva. Proud to be Ukrainian 🇺🇦 #SlavaUkraini #славаукраїнігероямслава ✊🏼🇺🇦 📸 Marina Pleshcheieva @pleshcheieva.m 🇺🇦👩🏼‍🔬 @riverflowsthroughit
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