Deminer Tetiana Shpak crouched down in a once tranquil poppy-strewn field in southern Ukraine, now littered with Russian mines.
Just a few years ago this scene would have been impossible — until 2018 women were banned from becoming deminers, a profession long considered too dangerous for them.
"I did not think that my path would lead here," said the 51-year-old former maths teacher whose face was covered with a thick protective mask.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.