WOMEN IN THE UKRAINIAN MILITARY: PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS
2023.11.24
Views
823
By Yurii Poita
INTRODUCTION
After the start of the full-scale Russian invasion in Ukraine, the role of women in the Ukrainian army increased significantly. Not only did more women begin to join the force, but they also started to more frequently occupy positions that were traditionally considered male. This was the result of long-term work of the Ukrainian government and the public to improve the position and protect the rights of women in the armed forces, fight against gender discrimination. At the same time, a number of problems still exist, such as the difficulty of being assigned to combat positions, career growth limitations, sometimes stereotypical attitudes and harassment from men, etc.
The purpose of this article is to analyze Ukraine’s efforts to improve the position of women in the armed forces, problematic aspects and achievements.
THE POSITION OF WOMEN IN THE ARMED FORCES OF UKRAINE
According to the MoD of Ukraine, as of 2023, the number of women in the military has increased by 40% compared to 2021 and reaches to the number of 43,000.[1] About 19,000 more are civilian employees. More than 16,000 women serve in the Army, more than 7,000 in the Air Force, about 2,000 in the Naval Forces, about 1,000 in the Airborne Assault Forces, and more than 3,000 in the Territorial Defense Forces. Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion up to 11,000 women have been conscripted of their own volition.[2]
According to the commander of the United Forces, Lieutenant General Serhiy Nayev, currently “women can be assigned to the most dangerous specialties - grenade launchers, machine gunners, shooters and snipers, sometimes with the desire to become tank gunners, to be part of the maintenance of cannons and mortars.”[3] At the same time, this was not always the case, and Ukraine has been reforming its legislation on gender equality in the military for a long time.
REFORMS ON GENDER EQUALITY
Reforms related to the position of women in the military began in 2016. The order of the MoD of Ukraine increased the number of positions for private, sergeant and senior staff for women.[4]
In September 2018, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted a number of amendments to laws on ensuring equal rights and opportunities for women and men during military service in the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other military formations, which, for example, allowed women to hold general positions in the Armed Forces and Security Service of Ukraine.[5] In 2018, the head of the Military Medical Department of the Security Service of Ukraine Lyudmila Shugalei became the first woman to receive the rank of major general; in 2020 Volodymyr Zelenskyy awarded the rank of major general to SBU employee Yulia Laputina; and the first woman to head one of the commands of the Armed Forces of Ukraine - the medical forces, Tetyana Ostashchenko became a member of the Armed Forces in 2021, who later received the rank of brigadier general.[6]
There was a rise in the number of women in officer ranks. If in 2014 a little more than 1,600 female officers served in the Armed Forces, then in 2023 - more than 5,000,[7] which was probably the result of both the increase in the number of the Armed Forces and the opening of more opportunities for women to obtain an officer's education.
In January 2019, the Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze, said that the number of women in the Ukrainian Armed Forces equaled that of the NATO armies: “Currently, 10.6% of our Armed Forces are women. This is very close to the average of NATO armies, which is 10.9%.” However, it is wrong to measure purely by quantitative indicators. NATO promotes the strengthening of the role of women in the organizational structure. Women in the countries of the Alliance hold responsible positions - from the heads of the general staff to the ministers of the country’s defense.
In 2023, large-scale measures were taken to ensure the equality of men and women.[8] First, the MoD canceled all restrictions on the access of female military personnel to all positions. While earlier women serve mainly in positions of medical specialties, communications workers, accountants, clerks and cooks, now a woman in military can be a grenade launcher, deputy commander of a reconnaissance group, commander of BMP, repairman, machine gunner, sniper, etc. Secondly, the maximum age for entering into a contract has been increased from 40 to 60 (as for men). Thirdly, women were given the opportunity to receive military education at all levels. Fourthly, work was organized to increase the level of competence of the staff to ensure equal rights and opportunities for women and men. This applies to trainings, seminars, educational programs, round tables, etc. Fifth, additional living quarters and toilets were equipped, military uniforms were developed for women. Last but not least, the MoD signed an order approving the Ministry’s Concept of Military Personnel Policy until 2028, that includes issues of gender equality in the Armed Forces.[9]
THE ROLE OF PUBLIC ORGANIZATIONS
This progress was also the result of pressure from society, which tried to change the entrenched patriarchal and conservative traditions in the armed forces. One of the main ones is “Invisible Battalion,” a public human rights project that aims to provide assistance to women in the Ukrainian military, fight against sexual violence and discrimination. The project conducted several researches; released the documentary film “Invisible Battalion” about the participation of women in hostilities in the east of Ukraine; and also held a number of other events: an exhibition of photos of Ukrainian military women at the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and at the Representation of the UN-Women in Ukraine. It was the “Invisible Battalion” that initiated the repeal of legislation that prevented women from holding combat positions. Several human rights organizations provide free assistance to servicewomen who have experienced sexual harassment. According to the information of the “Invisible Battalion,” such cases are supported by the association of women lawyers “YurFem,” public organizations “La Strada”and “Legal Hundred.”
PROBLEMATIC ASPECTS
Over the years, public organizations, including “Invisible Battalion,” have recorded a number of problems in the Ukrainian armed forces. First, as noted above, not all positions were open to women. Secondly, the disparity between men and women in leadership and command positions existed and still remains. Thirdly, there was a lack of specialized medical care for women, appropriate sizes of uniforms and shoes, and unsatisfactory living conditions. Fourthly, women were limited in receiving military education, especially when it came to training for the rank of officer. Fifth, in the army environment there were and still are gender stereotypes that women perform secondary tasks. Sixth, sexual harassment occurred and continues to occur. [10] Seventh, female military servicemen were practically not mentioned in the media. In October 2021, the Institute of Mass Information conducted a study and found that men were mentioned in almost every material about the army or war, while women were mentioned in only 5%.[11]
THE SITUATION AFTER THE START OF A FULL-SCALE WAR
After the start of a full-scale war, some problems remained unresolved. For example, the reluctance of male commanders to take a woman into their unit was observed. According to the “Invisible Battalion,” formally all combat positions are available to women, but in practice the problem remains and is currently being solved individually.[12] For example, 51-year-old Lesya Ganja tried to transfer to another brigade for the position of UAV aerial reconnaissance, but was refused for this reason. She said that the problem of women's uniform and hygiene is not critical, but a woman is physically weaker, so it is easier for her to find a position where physical advantages are not dominant. She learned aerial reconnaissance, control of attack drones, and found a unit that needed a fighter with such skills.
There are also problems with promotion. Air reconnaissance platoon commander Yuliya Mykynetko has been a senior lieutenant for three years, although her classmates are already battalion commanders. “The only possible option for women to get a higher military rank is to take a staff position. And I don’t really like serving in the headquarters. I am currently in intelligence, and here I will definitely not be appointed company commander.”
The third problem is the so-called “soft” discrimination. For example, when the commander was recruiting soldiers for the task in the Kyiv region, Lesya Ganzha and two other military women were bypassed. “When I asked why we can’t go, he said: ‘Do you also want?’ That is, men are not asked if they want. What is this, a trip on an excursion? You just have to always try to get something like this the same attitude as to other fighters.”
At the same time, there are positive changes compared to what happened before. “Now I have a lot of subordinate guys who are very motivated. When I came, they didn’t have any questions about my gender,” – said Yulia Mykytenko.
Also, the situation regarding the coverage of the role of women in the media has improved significantly. The number of materials about women fighting at the front together with men has increased a lot. The media emphasize the importance and visibility of women in the Armed Forces. It is important that these materials do not contain, as a rule, everyday sexism with the widespread stereotype “war is no place for a woman.”
Currently, in his daily evening speeches, President Volodymyr Zelensky addresses “males and females defenders at the front.” Images of female military personnel are now regularly used by the MoD on social media.
A WAY FORWARD
In order to improve the position of military women, the OSCE has developed a number of broad measures at the level of the MoD, which are defined in the Guide on Gender Integration in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The document contains the concept of gender; a description of gender threats in armed conflict; legislative principles of gender policy; NATO’s approaches to these issues; recommendations for gender integration. Despite the fact that the Guide was developed in 2020, many issues are still relevant today. According to the document, a number of measures should be implemented to achieve gender equality.[13]
First, the legal framework in the field of ensuring equal rights and opportunities for women and men should be improved. This refers to the adoption of relevant laws; inclusion of issues of gender equality in the priority areas of reforming the Armed Forces; development and improvement of the network of advisers on gender issues;[14] creation of a separate coordinating unit on gender issues in the MoD and General Staff; inclusion of a gender component in all instructions/functional responsibilities of managers and commanders at all levels, etc.
Secondly, a comprehensive gender approach should be applied in the budget policy of the MoD and General Staff.
Thirdly, it is necessary to train the staff of the MoD and the Armed Forces of Ukraine on issues of gender competence. This may include: creation of a gender education center at the MoD; conducting separate trainings on gender equality and also as separate issues during other trainings on professional development; production of educational and informational materials on these issues.
Fourth, a system for preventing and responding to cases of gender discrimination and sexual harassment should be established. This includes: implementing an effective mechanism for submitting information, considering and responding to complaints of gender discrimination and sexual harassment; improving reporting on gender discrimination; conducting a gender analysis of the code of ethical conduct; creation and operation of hotlines, etc.
Fifth, it is necessary to introduce a gender approach in personnel policy. This may include using a gender approach in hiring, promotion, and career development; implementation of mentoring and mutual support programs for military women; unification of requirements regarding the physical fitness of candidates for service, etc.
Sixth, working conditions for women and men should be improved. This includes providing separate safe accommodation and sanitary facilities (separate changing rooms, shower rooms, toilets, etc.); provision of women's uniforms, etc.
Seventh, it is necessary to introduce a system of monitoring, evaluation and reporting on the impact of gender integration on the effectiveness of activities. This includes the development of a system of indicators for the MoD gender integration plan; carrying out periodic monitoring of the state of gender policy implementation, etc.
Last but not least, society should be informed about gender issues. This may include the introduction of a section on websites dedicated to gender integration, which contains news, social videos, and photo materials, distance learning courses on these issues; participation of military women in conferences, seminars, interviews; preparation and publication of the White Paper on Gender Integration etc.
It should be noted that many of the listed measures are currently implemented in the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The question remains in the quality and scope of their implementation.
CONCLUSION
Ukraine has adopted a number of measures to ensure gender equality and eliminate discrimination against women in the military. We have seen an increase in the number of women in the army, the number of positions they hold, the proportion of female officers and in command positions, provision of women uniform etc. At the same time, there are still problems related to reluctance to appoint women to command positions, promotion, “soft” discrimination and harassment. Meanwhile, Ukrainian society demonstrates an improvement in the attitude towards women in uniform. For example, the percentage of Ukrainians who agree that female in the army should have equal opportunities with men increased sharply from 53% in 2018 to 80% in 2022.[15] In March 2023, polls conducted by the Independent Anti- Corruption Commission showed that 85% of Ukrainians have a positive attitude towards women in the armed forces, while 81% believe that a woman can command a combat unit, just like a man.[16] Responding to this, the Ukrainian government should further improve the system of ensuring gender equality in the military.
Mr. Yurii Poita is Head of the Asia-Pacific Section at the Center for Army, Conversion and Disarmament Studies (CACDS) in Kyiv and Asia Section at the New Geopolitics Research Network (NGRN), European China Policy Fellow at Mercator Institute for China Studies (MERICS, Germany). Since October 2022, he has been working as a Visiting Research Fellow at the Institute for National Defense and Security Research. Yurii Poita specializes in China's influence in the post-Soviet space, Ukrainian-Chinese relations, China’s factor in Russian-Ukrainian war, hybrid and conventional warfare.
[1]“Чисельність військовослужбовиць ЗСУ збільшилась на 40 відсотків порівняно з 2021 роком [The number of female servicemen of the Armed Forces increased by 40 percent compared to 2021],” MoD of Ukraine, October 16, 2023, https://t.me/ministry_of_defense_ua/8164.
[2]“Найбільше — у Сухопутних військах та Повітряних Силах: Сергій Наєв розповів, скільки жінок служить у ЗСУ [The largest number is in the Ground Forces and the Air Force: Serhiy Naev told how many women serve in the Armed Forces],” Army Inform, https://armyinform.com.ua/2023/06/22/najbilshe-u-suhoputnyh- vijskah-ta-povitryanyh-sylah-sergij-nayev-rozpoviv-skilky-zhinok-sluzhyt-u-zsu/.
[3]“Командування Об'єднаних Сил ЗС України [Command of the United Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine],” facebook, June 22, 2022, https://www.facebook.com/100064381853653/posts/pfbid02fNDcFz64 tFRxkFrwmJaxLPUvKV3W33QgBpsHv8KzK853jY4auzZxj4XDRLUWjuZNl/?paipv=0&eav=AfbpENLJi-1ZlYw1ACzU pZtcnDg7hgfBPPECkF9QWTypNIl0xNO8glYVVK29HYuZU6g&_rdr.
[4]“Order of the Minister of Defense of Ukraine No. 337 dated 27.05.2014 (with changes in 2016),” Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, 2016, https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/z0600-14#Text.
[5]“Law of Ukraine 'On Amendments to Certain Laws of Ukraine Regarding Ensuring Equal Rights and Opportunities for Women and Men During Military Service in the Armed Forces of Ukraine and Other Military Formations',” Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, 2018, https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/2523-19#Text.
[6]“У ЗСУ призначено першу жінку-командувача [The first female commander was appointed in the Armed Forces],” DW, July 30, 2021, https://www.dw.com/uk/u-zsu-pryznacheno-pershu-zhinku-komanduvacha/ a-58707811.
[7]“Жінки в ЗСУ: “Бажання служити сприймають за примху” [Women in the Armed Forces: “The desire to serve is perceived as a whim”],” DW, October 9, 2023, https://www.dw.com/uk/zinki-v-zsu-bazanna-sluziti- sprijmaut-za-primhu/a-66995226.
[8]“Чисельність військовослужбовиць ЗСУ збільшилась на 40 відсотків порівняно з 2021 роком, [The number of female servicemen of the Armed Forces increased by 40 percent compared to 2021],” MoD of Ukraine, October 16, 2023, https://t.me/ministry_of_defense_ua/8164.
[9]“Рекрутинг замість призову: Умєров затвердив Концепцію військової кадрової політики МОУ, [Recruiting instead of conscription: Umyerov approved the Concept of military personnel policy of the IOU],” UNIAN, November 5, 2023, https://www.unian.ua/war/rekruting-zamist-prizovu-umyerov-zatverdiv-koncepciyu- viyskovoji-kadrovoji-politiki-mou-12446817.html.
[10]Hanna Hrytsenko, Anna Kvit, Tamara Marceniuk, ““Невидимий батальйон”: участь жінок у військових діях в АТО, [“Invisible Battalion”: women's participation in military operations in the ATO],” NaUKMA, 2016, https://ekmair.ukma.edu.ua/server/api/core/bitstreams/c116ba78-18f1-4fd0-823b-b7dbdd49cc3f/ content.
[11]“На згадки про жінок-військовослужбовиць в медіа припадає лише 5%, [Mentions of female military servicemen in the media account for only 5%],” Institute of Mass Information, 2021, https://imi.org.ua/ monitorings/na-zgadky-pro-zhinok-vijskovosluzhbovyts-v-media-prypadaye-lyshe-5-doslidzhennya- imi-i41836.
[12]“Жінки в ЗСУ: “Бажання служити сприймають за примху” [Women in the Armed Forces: “The desire to serve is perceived as a whim],” DW, October 9, 2023, https://www.dw.com/uk/zinki-v-zsu-bazanna-sluziti- sprijmaut-za-primhu/a-66995226.
[13]Путівник гендерної інтеграції у Збройних силах України [Guide on Gender Integration in the Armed Forces of Ukraine] (OSCE: 2022), pp. 113-138, https://www.osce. org/files/f/documents/4/8/479044_0.pdf.
[14]In 2022, an advisor for gender advisors was developed with the support of the Government Commissioner for Gender Policy with the participation of the Network of Advisors on Gender Issues and with the financial support of the OSCE, “Порадник для гендерних радників і радниць [Advisor for gender advisors],” MoD of Ukraine, 2022, https://www.mil.gov.ua/content/poradnik_radnikam_z_gendernih_pitan.pdf.
[15]Jennifer Mathers and Anna Kvit, “Ukraine War: Attitudes Changing to Eomen Soldiers,” Social Europe, February 1, 2023, https://www.socialeurope.eu/ukraine-war-attitudes-changing-to-women-soldiers.
[16]“Питання дискримінації різних соціальних груп у ЗСУ, [The issue of discrimination of various social groups in the Armed Forces],” Ukrainian Veterans Fund, March 2023, pp.19-27, https://veteranfund.com. ua/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/RG_032023_CATI_NAKO.pdf.