Marharyta Omelianenko from the Svoboda Battalion Has Been Included in the UP 100: WOMEN’S STRENGTH ranking

The ranking recognises female leaders from various fields who are currently transforming the country, influencing society and shaping its future. This year’s theme – ‘When one blooms, we all bloom’ – is about mutual support, the strength of connections and the ability to take action even in the most challenging times.

As Head of Section S-3, Marharyta is responsible for one of the battalion’s key functions – combat planning and management. It is this part of the headquarters that ensures the coordination of the unit’s actions and the effectiveness of combat operations.

At the same time, her role extends far beyond her official duties. Margo is one of the battalion’s key officers and the driving force behind the unit. She immerses herself deeply in the processes, keeps a close eye on the details and works almost non-stop to ensure the unit operates as effectively as possible.

Marharyta’s journey has been a steady evolution from civic activism to military leadership. She began as an activist in the youth wing of the Svoboda All-Ukrainian Union, gained her first combat experience as part of the Karpatska Sich volunteer battalion during the ATO, and later became one of those who helped establish and develop the Svoboda battalion.

During this time, the unit has evolved from a group of volunteers into a modern, combat-ready structure. Marharyta Omelianenko has made a significant personal contribution to this process – as an organiser, an officer and a person who works tirelessly to achieve results.

We systematically support the units of the Ukrainian Defence Forces, in particular the Svoboda Battalion, and will continue to do so in the future. For the RIEL team, this is also a personal story: we are proud to know Marharyta, and we are grateful to her and to everyone who defends the country every day.