After the start of the full-scale invasion, 12,000 women joined the Ukrainian Armed Forces

According to the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, there are currently nearly 43,000 female service members in the ranks of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Before February 24, 2022, the number of women in the Ukrainian Armed Forces was around 30,000.

Positive changes have also occurred regarding gender equality in the Ukrainian military. Official restrictions for female service members have been removed, granting them access to all positions. Previously, women primarily served in medical specialties, communications, accounting, administrative roles, and as cooks. Now, women in the military can hold positions such as drivers, grenadiers, deputy reconnaissance team commanders, BMP (infantry fighting vehicle) commanders, mechanics, machine gunners, snipers, and more.

Additionally, age restrictions for enlisting under contract have been aligned for both men and women, allowing individuals between the ages of 18 and 60 to become contract soldiers.

Women have also been given the opportunity to obtain military education at all levels. Since 2019, girls have been allowed to enter military lyceums. Women who aspire to become officers in the Ukrainian Armed Forces now have access to all levels of military education, including the same specialties as their male counterparts, and they can later serve in a wide range of positions.

Other changes include maternity leave duration, which is now determined by a medical certificate and is counted towards the length of service in a military rank. The Ukrainian Armed Forces have introduced training and seminars on gender equality, gender expertise for documents developed by the Ministry of Defense, and the position of a non-staff advisor on gender issues within the Ministry of Defense and the Armed Forces, among other initiatives.

Efforts continue to improve the material and technical support for female service members, including the creation of new models of military uniforms and individual protective equipment tailored to anthropometric data. Regular work is being conducted to prevent sexual harassment and other human rights violations.

In July, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky awarded the military rank of Colonel of the Medical Service to Tetyana Ostashchenko, the first female commander of the Medical Forces of the Armed Forces, through his decree No. 427/2021.

Photo: Open sources