Recently, in May 2025, Ukraine’s 13th National Guard Khartiia Brigade launched its first military recruiting campaign that hopes to entice women to join the army. In particular, the brigade hopes to attract women to take up tech roles.
Currently, around 70,000 women are serving in Ukraine’s army, out of a total of one million service members, this according to data provided by the country’s defense ministry. There are still many hardships faced by female soldiers in the Ukrainian military, such as prejudice and lack of opportunities when it comes to career growth, as well as a lack of necessary accommodations for women—though it is being dealt with by volunteer organizations and local authorities.
The Khartiia Brigade is thought to be one of the progressive units that hope to integrate women into the army in a way that can allow them to thrive. While this campaign may be considered controversial by some, it comes as no surprise considering that Ukraine continues to face critical manpower shortages in its fight against Russia. It’s been nearly three and a half years since Russia has begun its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
But how did all begin? In April 2014, Russia-backed separatists seized control of several Ukrainian towns, shortly after Russia annexed Crimea in the months of February-March 2014. Then, in early 2022, Russia amassed troops along the Ukrainian border, leading to the full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022.
Want to learn more shocking facts and figures about the Russia-Ukraine war? Click through the following gallery to discover more.