In Ukraine, women are allowed to serve in the army, as well as to be in the Armed Forces and participate in operations on an equal footing with men. Find out how many women serve in the Ukrainian army and how many are directly fighting against the aggressor

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Women play an equal role with men in strengthening Ukraine's defence capabilities. Just like men, women are involved in combat missions during the war between Ukraine and russia. The Ministry of Defence told us how many women serve in the Armed Forces and disclosed the number of those who are directly fighting at the front.

How many women serve in the Armed Forces?

The total number of women in the Armed Forces of Ukraine is 68,000, of which more than 48,000 are military personnel. About 5,000 servicewomen are directly in the combat zone, said Liudmyla Darahan, State Secretary of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, at an international seminar on gender equality.

‘Today, women are everywhere - holding the rear, working in difficult positions, fighting in the ranks of the Armed Forces. They prove that people should be judged by their capabilities, efficiency and intelligence, not by their gender,’ she said.

It is worth noting that during the full-scale war, the number of women in the Ukrainian army increased by 12,000. Compared to 2021, this number has increased by 40%. Now a woman in the army can be a driver, grenade launcher, deputy commander of a reconnaissance group, commander of an infantry fighting vehicle, repairman, machine gunner, sniper, etc.

Compared to 2023, the number of women in the Ukrainian army has increased by 26,000 in more than a year. At the same time, the number of the country's daughters fighting at the front has not changed during this period.

It should be noted that as of the end of 2022 alone, 350 Ukrainian women in the military were awarded state decorations during the full-scale war. Two of them received the highest title of Heroes of Ukraine (posthumously). Today, there are many more such heroines.

For more details about the exploits of Ukrainian women during the war with russia, please click here.

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Can women be drafted into the Ukrainian army?

As you know, the new law on mobilisation in Ukraine came into force on 18 May 2024. Most of the new provisions apply to men, but some categories of women are also subject to changes.

The procedure for military registration for women was changed in October 2023. Since then, it has become mandatory for Ukrainian women in certain professions. The new law did not make any changes, so, as before, women with medical and pharmaceutical education must register for military service, regardless of their place of residence and whether they work in their profession or not.

At the same time, women can be called up for service only on a voluntary basis, provided they are fit for service by age and health.

We remind you! Under martial law, Ukrainian women can safely travel abroad. However, in some cases, they may be denied permission to do so. Here are the most common reasons for refusing to allow Ukrainian women to travel abroad.

Want to know more? Read the latest news and useful materials about Ukraine and the world in the News section.

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