Women play an equal role alongside men in strengthening Ukraine's defense capabilities, stated Lyudmila Daragan, the State Secretary of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, at the international seminar on gender equality held as part of the annual Richelieu Forum of Public Service in Kyiv.
She reported that the total number of women in the Armed Forces of Ukraine is 68,000, including over 48,000 military personnel. About 5,000 women are currently serving in combat zones.
Lyudmila Daragan shared her observations on the accelerated integration of women into the army in the context of repelling the large-scale Russian invasion:
“Today, women are everywhere — supporting the rear, working in demanding positions, and fighting in the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. They prove that people should be assessed based on their capabilities, effectiveness, and intelligence, rather than their gender.”
The State Secretary of the Ministry of Defense highlighted the changes in the ministry's gender policy that have been implemented over the past few years.
In particular, drawing on her own service experience, she noted that in 2018, women were given the opportunity to serve in combat specialties. However, this opportunity remained largely unrealized for a long time.
“The law alone proved insufficient. There was also a directive regulating officer positions separately for women and men. In 2022, after changing this directive, we were able to overcome these barriers,” said Lyudmila Daragan.
Furthermore, efforts were made to improve the supply of military gear for female service members. For instance, in 2023, summer women's military uniforms became available; previously, only ceremonial uniforms were provided.
Seminar participants discussed pressing issues of ensuring equality and inclusion within the context of Ukraine’s state policy. Special attention was given to the impact of the war on overcoming gender inequality in public service and the Armed Forces.
The event emphasized the importance of implementing people-centered principles. New challenges facing Ukraine due to the full-scale war were also discussed:
- Outflow of human capital
- Demographic crisis
- Migration
- Mobilization
- Reintegration of veterans into civilian life
Participants noted significant progress in Ukraine towards achieving gender equality and adapting legislation to European standards. The seminar served as a platform for exchanging experiences and discussing further plans for implementing the state gender policy.
“Ukraine demonstrates systemic successes in implementing inclusive approaches. Progress in overcoming gender inequality, the active involvement of women in various spheres of public life, as well as the integration of inclusion principles, particularly within the Ministry of Defense, are important steps toward European and Euro-integration,” emphasized Lyudmila Daragan.
