During the International Seminar on Gender Equality hosted in Kyiv as part of the annual Richelieu Public Service Forum, the State Secretary of the MOD, Liudmyla Darahan, emphasized that women play an equal role with men in strengthening Ukraine's defense capabilities.

According to her statement, there are 68 000 women in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, with over 48 000 of them being service members. Close to 5 000 female military personnel are deployed in the combat zone. 

Liudmyla Darahan shared her observations on the faster integration of women into the Armed Forces in the context of repelling a large-scale russian invasion: “Nowadays, women are present in all areas, from rear support service to challenging positions and military combat roles. They prove the importance of evaluating individuals based on their abilities, performance, and intellect, rather than their gender.”

In recent years, significant changes have been seen in the MoD’s gender policy, as highlighted by the State Secretary of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine.

Drawing from her personal service experience, she specifically mentioned that in 2018, women were given the opportunity to serve in combat roles. For a long time, however, this opportunity remained unrealized.

“The legislation alone did not suffice. A classified official directive marked “for official use only” was in place, specifying distinct officer roles for women and men. After this directive was revised in 2022, we successfully navigated past these challenges,” said Liudmyla Darahan.

Furthermore, we improved gear and clothing supplies for female service personnel. For example, in 2023, women's summer military uniforms were introduced. Before that, only the ceremonial uniform was available.

The seminar participants deliberated on current equality and inclusion concerns in the context of Ukrainian state policies. Emphasis was placed on how the war influenced the progress of gender equality in the civil service and the Armed Forces.

The importance of incorporating people-focused principles was brought to the forefront during the event. The participants also talked about new challenges Ukraine is encountering because of the full-scale war, namely:

• human capital outflow
• demographic crisis
• migration
• mobilization
• reintegration of veterans into civilian life

Ukraine has made considerable advancements in promoting gender equality and aligning its laws with European standards, as observed by participants. The seminar evolved into a space for exchanging experiences and deliberating on further steps in implementing the state's gender policy.

“Ukraine is demonstrating systemic success in incorporating inclusive strategies. Progress in addressing gender inequality, promoting women's active participation in diverse public domains, and incorporating inclusive principles, including within the Ministry of Defence, are essential for European integration,” emphasized Liudmyla Darahan.