"Anarchist, feminist, vegan": combat medic and activist Ivanna Kutsenko killed in action

Ivanna "Haika" Kutsenko, a 33-year-old marine and feminist activist, has been killed by Russian artillery fire.

Source: the anti-authoritarian volunteer network Solidarity Collectives

Details: Ivanna served in the 39th Separate Marine Brigade as a senior combat medic.

The servicewoman was killed when she went to a position to replace soldiers who had been carrying out combat missions since May, said her alma mater, the Sumy Medical College.

"Ivanna was among those who spent their every day in the place where courage, resilience and a readiness to save lives are especially needed. She performed her duty and remained alongside those who needed help," the college said of its former student.

Ivanna was from Rubizhne, Luhansk Oblast. After Russia's full-scale invasion began, she worked on humanitarian projects supporting women and children from frontline areas before later joining the military.

Ivanna was involved in feminist activism and became a co-founder of Bilkis, an NGO advocating for the rights of women and the LGBTQIA+ community.

"A feminist, vegan, cycling enthusiast, lover of adventure, freeganism and the world of Moomin. Haika was a force capable of moving everything and challenging any system. She was sunshine, energy and inspiration," Bilkis said of her.

The organisation added that Ivanna initiated the social project Hodivnychky, which provides hot meals to homeless and low-income people, and co-organised the Prostir Rechei social project, which collects unwanted clothes, shoes and other items.

Together with fellow activists, she also published the zines Others – people just like us, a collection of stories about the lives of women going through crises, and AktyvistkA, dedicated to women's activism and combating prejudice.

Ivanna was also a member of the Solidarity Collectives network. There, she spoke about her experiences in the army, sexism, housing problems, veganism, logistics and everyday life during military service.

She was remembered as someone who was not afraid to challenge the system and who supported other women who wanted to join the military through her own example.

"An anarchist, feminist, vegan, educator, marine, our dear comrade and friend. She was an embodiment of inspiration and resistance: sincere, stubborn, full of life.

Hayka carved out her own path as a marine through prejudice and the sexist barriers of the military system, eventually serving alongside her comrades as an equal on difficult combat missions," Solidarity Collectives said.

Background: A 20-year-old Ukrainian serviceman, Arkadii Petrov, who had moved to Scotland with his mother, younger brother and two sisters as a teenager, was killed while carrying out a combat mission in Ukraine's east.

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