The flower farmer defying war and empowering women in Ukraine

Yuliia Zavalniuk, a 35-year-old entrepreneur, is the co-founder of Villa Verde, a flower farm in Kolonshchina village, 46 kilometers from Kyiv. Despite the attacks damaging farm facilities and infrastructure, she continued flower production, becoming a symbol of resilience and defiance.

Now, her mission is to create an inclusive working environment, provide jobs for elderly women, and inspire others.

From luxury hotels to flower farming

“I grew up in Crimea, which has been occupied since 2014,” Zavalniuk explains. She fondly remembers her childhood by the seashore with her grandparents, surrounded by animals.

At seven, she moved to Kyiv with her parents, both entrepreneurs. Their hard work taught her the importance of independence and being her own manager. This, she recalls, was when she first dreamed of becoming a successful woman who could provide for her family while managing a purpose-driven enterprise.

While studying hospitality in Switzerland and later working in luxury hotels across Europe, she refined her business acumen and passion for service. “I love exceeding expectations,” she says. “I love the guests who are very challenging. But then you come with a smile and open heart and say, ‘I’m here. I'm willing to solve your problem; just let me do this.’”

Her transition to agriculture was inspired by her mother, who retired after years in the family business but soon became restless. “After half a year, she said, ‘I’m done with retirement. Now let’s grow flowers!’,” she recalls with a smile.

In 2019, they leased a hectare of land and planted their first peonies. By late 2021, the business had expanded to five hectares, filled with peonies, lilacs, and hydrangeas, equipped with automated watering and heating systems.

Just as she planned further growth, everything changed. “I was on a business trip to an exhibition in Milano and the next day I woke up and they say: ‘The war has started’,” she sighs. Her first thought? “I have so many flowers. No one will water them. I have to come back and water my flowers.”

Adapting to new realities

Her neighbors sent her a video of the farm’s main building engulfed in flames. Stored heating fuel and pellets fueled the fire during a March 5, 2022, attack, destroying infrastructure, including water systems and equipment. By April 19, she returned to a de-occupied village where electricity had been restored.

“I didn’t cry,” she says. “I thought: ‘Ok, I can sell these metal panels and recover some money. So, what is the most valuable?’” Her neighbors had manually watered the greenhouse plants in her absence, offering a glimmer of hope.

Support soon arrived from donors, helping Villa Verde rebuild. The farm restored basic watering systems and switched to manual irrigation. “Previously, a sophisticated machine automated the process of mixing and distributing fertilizers,” she explains. “Today, we rely on simpler, manual methods, using water tanks and mixing by hand. It is not fancy, but it works.”

Despite challenges, Villa Verde continues to adapt, producing fresh peony cuttings, including the classic Sarah Bernhardt and creamy white Colonel Owen Cousins. “I think we were the first in Ukraine to grow hydrangeas locally because it’s such a complicated flower,” she says proudly.

Recently, she expanded into agriculture, growing cherry melons and sweet potatoes, aiming for an organic harvest of two tons.

The power and inspiration of the flower business

Before the full-scale war, Villa Verde provided equal opportunities for men and women. When many men left for the front lines, women remained without income. Recognizing this, Zavalniuk adjusted her hiring policy, prioritizing women of all ages, regardless of family obligations. Understanding their need to balance work and personal life - and knowing she might face the same choice one day – she empathized and adapted.

Since 2022, Villa Verde has created two new jobs annually; today, four older women work on the farm.

Employing local women has changed lives. “I may not know everything,” Zavalniuk admits. “But women from the countryside know some techniques and may come and share their ideas. We take it into account. We make changes, and they feel they are here, not just as a working force. They are part of a business. They can influence our decisions.”

Her commitment to economic inclusion and job creation aligns with the “Climate Justice” area of the Beijing+30 Action Agenda, a voluntary, action-oriented platform to accelerate the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the 2030 Agenda.

Even during wartime, she actively promotes women’s economic independence, sharing her experiences at the Women’s Economic Empowerment Congress organized by UN Women in Ukraine. She has also strengthened her business model through training under UN Women's "Empowerment of Women in Business” initiative.

The change that took root in the ashes

Faced with the war, Zavalniuk saw an opportunity to rebuild and challenge societal norms. “We have to grab this chance,” she reflects. “Women were always given the second role, with the husband or the family being seen as most important; it was never about the woman being important. The woman is just here to be present, but not to make changes and not to drive something.”

Now, she sees that changing. More women are launching businesses in her village - from growing apples to crafting handmade socks. With stronger local production networks and affordable taxes, rural women are achieving economic independence. Inspired by Zavalniuk’s success, some of her neighbors have even started flower businesses, proving that women can drive economic transformation in Ukraine.

She believes flowers are more than just a product–they symbolize hope. Locally grown blooms are fresher and of higher quality than imports. Just as the Netherlands became famous for tulips, she is convinced Ukraine can become known for peonies.

Even in war, people keep buying flowers because they bring joy and smiles. For her, flower farming also provides purpose and routine. “Flowers, they do not care if there is a war or not in Ukraine. They need water and heating.”

She finds strength in Joan of Arc’s words: “I am not afraid… I was born to do this.” Smiling, she adds, “Here at the farm, I'm not afraid of bugs, diseases, weather conditions, or missile attacks because I was born to grow flowers.”

This story is a part of the Beijing+30 regional communications campaign ‘Unstoppable’, aimed at marking the 30th commemoration of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. The views expressed in this story are those of the protagonist and the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of UN Women, the United Nations, or any of its affiliated organizations.