Award-winning Globe and Mail journalist Janice Dickson provides a vital new lens on Russia’s war in Ukraine through the gripping accounts of women—soldiers and civilians—who defended their country, resisted Russian occupation, and fought for their freedom in extraordinary ways.

On February 24, 2022, hell arrived on Ukraine’s doorstep. Russia had launched a full-scale invasion of the country, sending missiles crashing into homes and soldiers pouring across the border. But as the world watched in horror, Ukrainians remained defiant—and that unwavering spirit is wholly embodied by the mothers, daughters, sisters, and grandmothers who risked their lives in the face of unrelenting attacks.

During the course of eight reporting trips to Ukraine, Janice met women whose stories were breathtaking and unforgettable. Every Field a Battlefield is a portrait of Ukraine’s war through the women who live there, from a history teacher turned artillery commander who defended the eastern front, to a young marketing professional who tried to visit her sick father in occupied Crimea, only to find herself detained in a nightmarish series of Russian jails, to a ninety-eight-year-old woman who walked nearly 10 kilometres in a pair of slippers to avoid Russian occupation. Their poignant tales of life—and death—form a remarkable and inspiring account of bravery and humanity.