This conflict changes everything, curbing and in some cases revoking rights that took years to win. Women are not exempt. The Russian invasion of Ukraine triggered mass displacement, sending people toward neighboring countries, the European Union and beyond. The United Nations notes that women constitute a large majority of the refugees and those displaced inside the country. Alarming trends include trafficking risks and the continued demand for surrogate services; nonetheless, women keep working in cities like Kyiv. Many Ukrainian women, however, either cannot or will not leave their homeland, taking on a heavier domestic load in the absence of men.
Before the war, Ukraine, with a population of about 44 million, faced economic hurdles and a slow march toward gender equality. Data from the United Nations Development Programme placed Ukraine at 49th on the gender inequality index among 162 countries. As with most conflict statistics, postwar figures are hard to verify. Nonetheless, international humanitarian organizations provide estimates that help sketch the impact on women. The crisis has placed a heavy burden on female lives and roles in society.
An example: the stress and hardship of war contribute to premature births, a pattern seen in other conflicts, including the Balkans in the 1990s. Widespread corruption and the strain of displacement have not stopped volunteers and frontline workers. Women police officers and military personnel have grown in number, especially since the war began. Ukrainian authorities reported an increase from about 30,000 to 41,000 women in uniform by 2021, with around 5,000 actively on the front lines and another 19,000 civilians supporting the army.
The Prensa Ibérica group’s EL PERIÓDICO spoke with several of these women to hear their testimonies:
Alena Strijak, Chief of Police
Alena Strijak, at thirty-four, stands as Ukraine’s local police chief in Kharkiv. She speaks with conviction and speed, making it clear why she chose this path. Strijak joined the police in 2015 as an inspector, and she notes that in Kharkiv, a city of roughly 1,500 officers, most of them were men. She believes changes will come, but the wartime period delayed new recruitment in the first year of conflict. Strijak has faced daily challenges from rising alcohol problems to new kinds of crime driven by hardship, including a surge in apartment thefts. She observes that the war has entered a cycle where sirens and bombardments are part of daily life, and people now contact the police more readily than before.
Larissa, Battalion Sergeant Major
A battalion sergeant from eastern Ukraine, Larissa, often works in a male-dominated unit. She trains soldiers, sharing expertise in firearms and tactics. In recent times, she has transitioned from civilian life to military duty, leaving behind a factory job after the invasion. Her role marks a broader shift in the region as women take on leadership positions within the armed forces and volunteer sectors. The wartime disruption has upended ordinary life, and Larissa reflects on the rapid changes that forced a new professional identity upon her.
Tatiana Zolotopup, Volunteer
In Kamianka, a town retaken by Ukrainian forces, Tatiana Zolotopup was found near a van with a flat tire while delivering food and medicine to residents remaining without power or communications. The town bears the scars of conflict, with destroyed buildings and a landscape marked by the painted Z of the occupying army. A native of Lugansk, Tatiana joined the effort early and quickly, explaining that the occupation of her region compelled her to act. The volunteer force she helped coordinate spans roughly a hundred people, mainly in the Limán area, operating under difficult road conditions and distance. She emphasizes that serving those who cannot return home is a way to respond to collective hardship.
These testimonies highlight the personal choices and sacrifices of women who have stepped forward to fill gaps left by the war. They reflect a nation adapting to new rhythms—work that never fully stops, even as danger and misery intensify. The human cost is high, yet resilience persists through focused service, leadership, and cooperative action in communities across Ukraine.