Snihurivka farmers adapt as women take the wheel of tractor

“Vehicles are my passion. I can change a tire and drive a tractor, like any buff dude,” says Maria Korolenko, a student at Snihuriv Vocational Lyceum who is studying to become a tractor driver.

Six other women are studying with Maria within the UNDP and Danish state program framework, which aims to recover post-war agriculture.

When Russian forces occupied the Snihurivka community in 2022, many residents left and didn’t come back. After the Ukraine-initiated liberation, many men joined the ranks of the state’s forces. However, the sudden male outflow caused a shortage of workers.

It’s easier to work in my homeland

Maria’s driving skills are as impeccable as men’s. She’s a skilled tractor driver and also drives a Renault minibus on the Snihurivka-Mykolaiv route. Maria has been working on this route for over a year, being the sole female driver among 15 colleagues.

If men are protecting us, why can’t I replace them?

“Many admire my job, saying: “Oh, you are so cool, a woman driving a big car, this is so interesting.” A while ago, this one woman came up and said: “Sorry, I’m scared to ride with a female driver.” One of our male colleagues joined the conversation and said: “You know, this woman knows about cars a little bit better than all of us here,” Maria said confidently.

Maria started driving a tractor to help her husband, who joined the military.

“If men are protecting us, why can’t I replace them? I’ll take over their responsibilities for a few months, and then they can return victorious, and I can focus on raising our children in peace.”
Viktoria Torop, like Maria, enrolled in a tractor driving program to repel men’s outflow.

While studying, I couldn’t help but think about the soldiers fighting on the frontlines. I wanted them to know why their sacrifices were meaningful.

“While studying, I couldn’t help but think about the soldiers fighting on the frontlines. I wanted them to know why their sacrifices were meaningful. I want them to see that we are not just idling here. People in the rear believe in them. I want them to feel supported here,” Viktoria says, leaning on the tractor wheel.

She hurries back to work as her mentor waits for her to teach more about operating the tractor.

Her best friend Natalia Steshyna works in the fields, too. Unlike the other girls, Natalia initially lacked confidence in her abilities, expressing concerns about her capacity to operate the tractor.

“I was worried that the men might be skeptical, questioning our abilities. However, once we arrived and showed our skills, their attitudes shifted. They began to treat us with respect and eventually accepted us as equals. I’m grateful for the understanding and camaraderie within our team,” the woman explained.

Yet, Natalia believes an average woman is not as physically strong as a man.

“Let’s take something like changing a tire. Men need four people to change a wheel, and we can only loosen the nuts,” she says, pointing to the tractor’s rear wheel, which outweighs her by several times.

Mastering not only tractor driving

20-year-old Nadiia Danyliuk is the youngest of them all. Like Maria, she came to learn to drive a tractor out of her love for big vehicles.

Mastering the tractor was challenging, but over time, I’ve developed a deep connection with it.

“I adore working in the fields and operating all the machinery. I’ve been working in the fields since I was 14. Had I not gone to school, I wouldn’t have acquired the skills to drive foreign tractors like John Deere and Massey. Mastering the tractor was challenging, but over time, I’ve developed a deep connection with it,” the young woman shared.

Nadiia also drives cars and motorcycles. She dreams of learning to operate an armored personnel carrier. She considers joining her boyfriend’s brigade as a driver and hopes that her tractor driving skills will be valuable.

Natalia Sylkina is 25 years older than her colleague. She enrolled in the program after struggling to find a job. After her husband’s death, she has been providing for her two children for 13 years and hopes for a brighter financial future.

“I’m no stranger to hard work. I’ve done everything from sorting to driving a diesel locomotive. Now, operating a tractor gives me a real sense of accomplishment, even though it’s physically demanding,” Natalia says, wiping her sweaty forehead.

During the Russian occupation, Natalia’s greatest concern was feeding her daughter, Nadiia. The nearest store was a grueling hour-and-a-half walk away, which they would sometimes make together. Despite her hunger, Nadiya refused to accept any food from the occupiers, insisting that she would rather starve than take anything from the enemy. Natalia is now determined to work tirelessly in the fields to ensure her daughter never experiences poverty again.

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Adjusting to fieldwork has been challenging, especially given tractor drivers’ demanding 12-hour day and night shifts. After her night on the tractor, Maria Korolenko also drives a minibus to support her three children. She is willing to take on any job for her family, including her 13-year-old eldest and her youngest, who is just two. Maria almost lost her third child during the occupation and evacuation, but now she speaks of her children with a joyful glow in her eyes.

“I didn’t bring my kids into this world to deny them anything. They motivate me to work,” says Maria, showing photos of her sons.

“If it wasn’t for the war, I wouldn’t have learned to drive a tractor”

Russian forces lived in the Snihurivka Lyceum, where tractor drivers are currently studying. The lyceum building was severely damaged as the furniture, library collection, and student equipment were destroyed. The lyceum remains filled with Russian uniforms, food bags, and canned goods. The Snihurivka fields were heavily mined, preventing agricultural work until 2023.

See all these fields? How can we leave them?

“If it wasn’t for the war, I wouldn’t have learned to drive a tractor or a minivan. My husband would have a job, and we’d be living like an average Ukrainian family. But the war took away our income, property, everything,” says Maria.

Concerned about her children’s safety, Maria fled Snihurivka during the occupation. After the city’s liberation, she returned home to raise her sons in her native land.

“See all these fields? How can we leave them? People judge us for coming back here, as it’s dangerous. But there won’t be any food for people if I don’t drive the tractor,” Maria tears up.

She loves her homeland, calling it her source of strength, family, and friends. She calls the day of Snihurivka’s liberation one of the happiest in her life. She couldn’t believe that Ukrainian troops pushed back the occupiers, so Maria wept with joy upon seeing a video of Ukrainian soldiers on her home street.

As she finishes her shift in the fields, Maria takes the wheel of her minibus. Passengers smile at the friendly driver who will transport them from Snihurivka to Mykolaiv.

Text: Olga Kurshevska; Photo: Andriy Dubchak