70,000 Women in Ukraine’s Armed Forces: A War That Reshaped Roles and Responsibilities

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Квітень 6, 2026

On 6 March 2026, Аліна Рогач, Project Manager of the Spain and Latin America Cooperation Program at the Transatlantic Dialogue Center, Богдана Бацко, Project Assistant of the same program, and Olha Kvashuk, “Europe and the World” Program Manager at the International Renaissance Foundation, commented for a column by Israel López Gutiérrez published in El Heraldo (a Mexican national daily newspaper).

The column highlights how Ukrainian women’s role has expanded during Russia’s full-scale war: alongside work and family responsibilities, women are increasingly active in volunteering, medicine, civil society leadership, public life, and military service. The article notes that around “70,000” women are currently serving in Ukraine’s Armed Forces.

Batsko stressed that women’s role in Ukraine has been growing since 2014, and described the “double burden” many women carry — caring for children and managing households while also working to provide income as men serve in the armed forces. She also noted that many young women join the military as a values-based choice and with a clear understanding that the outcome of the war depends on women as well, not only men.

Rohach emphasized that the war has accelerated changes in women’s roles in Ukrainian society, overcoming limitations linked to the Soviet legacy. She underlined that women in the Armed Forces are not confined to administrative positions: many serve on the frontline and in leadership roles. She also pointed to growing women’s leadership in public diplomacy, including an increase in women serving as ambassadors.

Read the full El Heraldo column via the link.

This project was supported by the International Renaissance Foundation.