Halyna Luhova

Halyna Luhova gained international recognition for her service as the Mayor of Kherson after the 2022 Russian invasion, serving as the only female mayor of a major city in Ukraine. Kherson, a port city on the Dnipro River, has been on the frontlines of the war, initially captured by Russian forces and later liberated by Ukrainian forces. Luhova served as mayor after Russian forces kidnapped the prior mayor, formally serving as the head of Kherson’s military administration until March 2023. She is widely credited for her leadership in maintaining services and resistance to the Russian invasion, despite enormous challenges.  She is currently supporting the Ukrainian Paliament Commissioner for Human Rights.