Women in the Russian invasion of Ukraine

A Ukrainian police officer with two women in Kyiv on 16 March 2022

The Russian invasion of Ukraine, that began on 24 February 2022, has had a significant impact on women across Ukraine and Russia, both as combatants and as civilians. In Ukraine, the invasion has seen a significant increase in women serving in the military as well as a significant number of women leaving the country as refugees. In Russia, women have led the anti-war movement.[1][2][3][4][5]

First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska has stated that "Our resistance, as our future victory, has taken on a particularly feminine face," and has praised Ukraine's women for serving in the military, raising their children in wartime, and providing essential services.[6] The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women has called the invasion "a crisis for women and girls," stating that "from heightened trafficking and gender-based violence to the loss of crucial livelihoods and rising poverty levels, women and girls of Ukraine are facing severe impacts."[7]

  1. ^ Kelleher, Patrick (18 March 2022). "Russian bombs kills 'heroic, brave and courageous' Ukrainian LGBT+ activist". PinkNews. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  2. ^ Baker, Faima (8 March 2022). "5 Women To Follow On Social Media For An Insight Into Ukrainian Life Right Now". HuffPost. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  3. ^ Adebahr, Cornelius (21 March 2022). "What Germany's turning point means for its feminist foreign policy". Politico. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  4. ^ Moaveni, Azadeh; Nagarajan, Chitra (15 March 2022). "Another deeply gendered war is being waged in Ukraine". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  5. ^ Olmstead, Molly (3 March 2022). "How Women Forced Ukraine to Welcome Them Into the Military". Slate. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  6. ^ Willsher, Kim (22 March 2022). "Olena Zelenska thanks other first ladies for supporting Ukraine". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 March 2022. Our resistance, as our future victory, has taken on a particularly feminine face. Women are fighting in the army, they are signed up to territorial defence [units], they are the foundation of a powerful volunteer movement to supply, deliver, feed ... they give birth in shelters, save their children and look after others' children, they keep the economy going, they go abroad to seek help. Others are simply doing their jobs, in hospitals, pharmacies, shops, transport, public services ... so that life continues."
  7. ^ "In Focus: War in Ukraine is a crisis for women and girls". UN Women. 23 February 2023. Retrieved 6 March 2023.