Valeria Shashenok

Since the start of the full-scale invasion, Valeria from Chernihiv has been creating TikTok videos in English about her life while Katsapas attacked her hometown. She has 1.3 million followers on TikTok, and one of her most popular videos has garnered 52 million views. Throughout the nearly two years of the war, she has continued her activist activities.

Thanks to her work, the Western world has had many opportunities to learn more about Ukraine. She has spoken at the European Parliament, authored a book, and her documentary has been featured at several festivals in other countries. Furthermore, she was invited by the British Ministry of Defense to observe how the British train Ukrainian defenders.