Volunteerism as Resistance and Ukrainian Identity

In Ukraine, volunteerism is national survival. It unites all members of Ukrainian society to establish and preserve national identity. Through four personal testimonies, this exhibit shows how, during war, the act of volunteering empowers Ukrainians to protect their right to exist. As citizens volunteer to fulfill state responsibilities, as women defy gender norms to support the war effort, and as volunteer spaces transform into hubs of solidarity through work, volunteerism becomes a force that sustains Ukrainian identity.

When state infrastructures collapse, Ukrainian citizens fill the gaps, guided by what Karagiannis (2016) calls the “if not us, then who?” principle. By organizing supply routes, providing medical aid, and even joining the armed forces, citizens take ownership of Ukraine’s sovereignty. There is a clear collective shift in values towards an identity that puts Ukraine first. With even children selling toys to fundraise for soldiers, it shows how volunteerism and the protection of Ukrainian identity are synonymous.

This sense of agency is especially visible in the roles women have taken on to support the war effort. Women resist through enlistment on the front lines, rising to nearly 50,000 women in 2023 (Oraimi & Antwi-Boateng). They also serve on what Ferris-Rotman (2022) refers to as the “rear front line,” where volunteers take on essential, non-combat roles. This includes preparing and delivering food for troops, sewing uniforms, running donation centers, and weaving camouflage nets. Every Ukrainian bears an equal responsibility to protect Ukraine through volunteering. Women are Ukrainian first, before they are women.

Spaces like libraries and churches have been transformed into hubs of volunteer activity. When Ukrainians volunteer together in these volunteer spaces, it brings communities closer during traumatic times. This reinforces a shared sense of purpose, and pride which fuels Ukrainians to continue protecting their identities and nation. Lopatovska et al. (2025) highlights that Ukrainian libraries have become symbols of preserving community and national identities that “depredations had seemed to threaten.” Through volunteerism, Ukrainians forge their own community spaces, even when the Russian regime attempts to dismantle Ukrainian identity through invasion and genocide.

In Ukraine, to be a volunteer is to be Ukrainian.

For the best exhibit experience, the four testimonies are intentionally arranged by theme. While all explore volunteerism as a key part of Ukrainian culture, Testimonies 130 and 19 focus on volunteer spaces, whereas Testimonies 87 and 250 highlight women’s roles in the war through volunteerism.

Testimony 130

This testimony features a librarian from the Zhytomyr region who, after being separated from her family during Russia’s invasion, finds strength in the solidarity from Ukrainians of all backgrounds at a mobilization point; inspired by this, she transforms her library into a community center for displaced Ukrainians. This testimony reflects a collective identity shift that encourages Ukrainians to put aside their personal differences as a vital means to protect Ukrainian identity through volunteerism. This symbolizes a culture where the Ukrainian identity, unity and civic responsibility outweigh personal or regional differences. The mobilization point reflects how volunteer spaces serve not only logistical purposes but also act as sites of protecting Ukrainian identity through shared purpose, and emotional solidarity. As Lopatovska et al. (2025) suggests, these hubs become symbols of preserving community and national identities, resisting Russia’s attempts to erase Ukrainian identity. This impact is seen in the librarian’s decision to convert her library to help displaced Ukrainians, demonstrating the chain reaction of volunteerism that strengthens and preserves the spirit of a united Ukraine.

Testimony 19

This testimony describes a young woman’s journey from the Volyn region through the stages of denial following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and how, in response, her values shifted to view volunteerism as essential to Ukrainian survival—shown through the youth members of her church “unanimously” agreeing to bake thousands of meals every day for the war effort. In the face of state instability, volunteerism has become both an instinctual and ritualistic practice for Ukrainian citizens. This reflects Karagiannis’s (2016) “if not us, then who?” principle, as citizens take ownership for the preservation of Ukrainian identity. Volunteerism appears to be an unspoken expectation for the survival of Ukrainian identity as the woman states “it is now very necessary.” The testimony also highlights the concept of “place,” showing how the church serves as a vital community hub where volunteerism brings Ukrainian youth together, strengthening social bonds and fostering a deep sense of pride in their national identity.

Testimony 87

This testimony follows a 19-year-old woman from the Volyn region through the fear and uncertainty brought on by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and shows how, in the midst of war, she finds hope and pride in her country, as volunteerism emerges as a defining response among Ukrainian youth—with many youth joining the army and even children contributing by selling their toys. This shows how volunteerism acts as a form of resistance ingrained in all Ukrainians, with many youth sacrificing their lives for the wellbeing of Ukraine. Similar to Testimony 19, this account also demonstrates Karagiannis’s (2016) “if not us, then who?” principle, as Ukrainian youth step up to fill institutional gaps and take personal responsibility for national survival. This testimony also reveals one side of the role women play in the war through volunteerism, as women step into the roles of soldiers on the frontlines. This highlights how the Ukrainian identity comes before traditional gender roles, showing that the fight for Ukraine through service and volunteerism belongs to everyone.

Testimony 250

This testimony captures the fear and anxiety felt by a 55-year-old woman from the Zhytomyr region on the day Russia invaded Ukraine, as well as how that trauma was transformed into active volunteerism that brought women in her village together “like never before.” Volunteering emerges as a core part of Ukrainian culture, where an individual’s sense of self-worth becomes closely linked to their contributions to helping Ukraine. In contrast to Testimony 87, this account emphasizes the essential role of women beyond combat, challenging traditional war narratives and highlighting their importance in sustaining Ukraine’s war effort. This supports Oraimi and Antwi-Boateng’s (2023) view that Ukrainian women’s volunteerism is a powerful expression of agency and a demand for equal recognition in supporting their country during times of crisis. It also reflects how volunteering further builds social cohesion and shared purpose, which fosters pride in a collective Ukrainian identity.