Number of women in Ukrainian Armed Forces is higher than in NATO countries

Svitlana Voytsekhovska, a co-founder of the Ukrainian Women's Congress, highlighted increased female participation during the war, noting that about 60,000 Ukrainian women serve in the Armed Forces

These remarks were made during an interview on Espreso.

"Today, about 60,000 Ukrainian women are actively serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, making up over 20% of the total force," stated the co-founder of the Ukrainian Women's Congress.

Voytsekhovska highlighted that the number of women in the Armed Forces of Ukraine surpasses that of all North Atlantic Alliance countries.

"This is a significant indicator. The war, to put it that way, has expanded opportunities for our women, with many actively participating on the front lines. Remarkably, stories exist of women with four children serving in the Armed Forces, stepping into roles instead of their husbands in business and farming, when they were not very active previously. The war has revealed the remarkable activity and heroism of our women," she concluded.

It's worth noting that the Seventh Ukrainian Women's Congress commences today in Kyiv, serving as a unique platform influencing the state's agenda on gender equality.

• As of October 16, the Ministry of Defense reported that nearly 43,000 female military personnel are presently in service. Over the past two years, the number of women in the Armed Forces of Ukraine has surged by 12,000, a 40% increase.
• Iryna Nykorak, founder of the Arm Women Now project and a People's Deputy of Ukraine, revealed that despite over 60,000 women serving in the Armed Forces, they are still issued men's underpants in the army.