Over 57,000 Ukrainian women now serve in active military roles

The Ukrainian General Staff confirmed that the armed forces now count more than 76,000 women, with 57,000 serving as enlisted personnel and the remainder in civilian capacities. Since the start of the full-scale invasion, female participation has nearly doubled, and the latest figures show over 20,000 women in combat-related positions, ranging from drone operation to artillery and cyber specialties. Voluntary service is standard, but women aged 18 to 60 with medical or pharmaceutical training have been required to register since October 2023, making them eligible for call-up.

Oksana Hryhorieva, the military’s gender affairs advisor, stresses that contemporary conflict relies on technology and expertise, not just physical strength. Four women have attained general officer rank—Tetiana Ostashchenko, Yuliia Laputina, Liudmyla Shuhalei, and Tetiana Podashevska—signaling a shift toward equal professional pathways. The General Staff says the increase reflects both policy changes and a cultural evolution toward gender equality in the Ukrainian military.