More than 57,000 women serve as military personnel in Ukraine's Armed Forces, General Staff says
More than 76,000 women serve in the Ukrainian Armed Forces, including 57,000 military personnel, while the remainder hold civilian positions, the General Staff said in response to an inquiry from the Kyiv Independent.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces are home to more than 57,000 women who serve in various roles, according to the General Staff. This figure includes 57,000 military personnel and the remaining women who are stationed in civilian positions. Since October 2023, women aged 18 to 60 with medical or pharmaceutical education have been required to register with the military and could be called up for service if they meet the necessary requirements.
Since March 2026, the number of women serving in the military has grown by around 1,000, bringing the total to more than 75,000 as of September 2026. Of these, over 20,000 are in combat positions, which encompass a wide range of military professions, including drone pilots, reconnaissance specialists, medics, signalers, artillerywomen, military psychologists, electronic warfare specialists, and more.
Despite the significant increase in the number of women serving, it is crucial to recognize that their roles extend far beyond traditional combat roles. Women in the Ukrainian military are not only participating in combat but also in various other critical functions that contribute to the modern military's effectiveness. Oksana Hryhorieva, a gender affairs advisor for the Ukrainian Armed Forces, emphasized that the military offers women an opportunity to participate in the entire professional path, from being a soldier to reaching the highest officer positions.
This represents a fundamental shift from past practices. The rise in female military service has been closely tied to the ongoing conflict, as more women have acknowledged that defending the state is a personal choice rather than a gender issue. The Ukrainian military has also expanded access to all military specialties and positions for women, recognizing that modern warfare involves not just physical strength but also technology, intelligence, cybersecurity, medicine, communications, and analysis, areas where women can excel.
The increased presence of women in the military reflects a broader cultural shift within the Ukrainian Armed Forces, emphasizing gender equality by ensuring equal access to opportunities, positions, and professional development based on merit rather than gender.
Written by urgent.news from Kyiv Independent's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
