Today, more women are working in Ukraine's coal mines than ever before. Replacing the men who went to the front, they descend into the deep mines of Donbas. Is this a temporary shift in roles or a step toward gender equality? The film tells the stories of women underground, seeking light in the tunnel of war.
In pre-dawn Pavlograd, near the front line, a rocket alarm breaks the silence—a grim daily ritual. Three women—Larysa, Khrystyna, and Natalia—descend 300 meters underground, where coal fuels Ukraine’s survival. Geologist Larysa analyzes rock, Khrystyna operates machinery, and Natalia transports coal. With 3,000 men conscripted, over 100 women now work underground, defying gender norms. As the front line nears, stakes rise. Nearby mines have shut down, but Pavlograd’s miners persist, powering homes and defenses amid Russian attacks. Their resilience sustains Ukraine’s energy supply in wartime.
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