Women’s Rights in Ukraine: From Independence to Wartime Resilience

Since declaring independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, Ukraine has undergone a complex, uneven evolution in the realm of women’s rights. While the early years of independence were characterised by economic hardship and social dislocation that often exacerbated gender inequality, the last three decades have seen significant shifts in both legislation and societal attitudes. The full-scale Russian invasion in 2022 introduced profound new challenges but also illuminated and accelerated women’s vital role in Ukrainian society, from the home front to the battlefield.

The Legacy of the Soviet System

The Soviet Union officially promoted gender equality, boasting high rates of female employment, access to education and legal equality. However this equality was largely superficial. While Ukrainian women participated en masse in the workforce, they remained underrepresented in positions of power and overburdened with unpaid domestic labour. The collapse of the USSR disrupted social safety nets and led to rising poverty, disproportionately affecting women.

The 1990s saw a retrenchment in gender norms. Economic liberalisation brought new forms of exploitation: sex trafficking of Ukrainian women became a regional crisis, and traditional patriarchal attitudes reasserted themselves. Women were pushed out of public life and into domestic roles, often idealised in media and politics as symbols of national morality and resilience.

Legislative Progress and Civil Society

Despite early setbacks, Ukraine gradually laid the groundwork for improved women’s rights. The Ukrainian Constitution, adopted in 1996, enshrined gender equality. However legal reforms often outpaced implementation.

In the 2000s, a vibrant network of NGO's and civil society organisations began advocating for women’s rights in earnest. They pushed for stronger protections against domestic violence, equal pay, reproductive rights and political representation. Ukraine ratified international treaties such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), though enforcement lagged behind commitments.

Major progress came in 2017 with the passage of the Law on Preventing and Combating Domestic Violence. This established mechanisms for restraining orders, victim protection and institutional coordination. In 2022 Ukraine ratified the Istanbul Convention (the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence). This is a major human rights treaty covering all members of the Council of Europe, Europe's principal body setting standards for international human rights. Ukraine's ratification marked a crucial step in aligning national legislation with international standards.

Yet challenges remain. Domestic violence is widespread and often underreported. Rural women face disproportionate barriers in accessing services. LGBTQ+ women, Roma women and women with disabilities experience compounded forms of marginalisation. Representation in politics has improved but remains limited; as of 2025, women constitute roughly 21% of the Verkhovna Rada (Ukraine's national parliament).

Women in the Maidan and Conflict Zones

The Euromaidan revolution of 2014 was a turning point not just in Ukraine’s geopolitical trajectory but in the visibility of women in public life. Women played prominent roles as activists, journalists, medics and organisers. While not always recognised in official narratives, their participation challenged traditional gender roles and galvanised feminist activism.

The war in the Donbas from 2014 onward further altered perceptions. Women joined the armed forces in growing numbers, initially unofficially or in support roles, but increasingly as combatants. By 2021 over 31,000 women were serving in Ukraine’s military, prompting reforms to better accommodate and protect female soldiers. These changes included uniform provisions, anti-harassment protocols and recognition of military ranks.

However systemic sexism persisted. Female veterans often struggled for recognition, faced discrimination in post-service employment, and lacked access to tailored psychological support. Still the image of the Ukrainian woman had shifted: no longer only a caregiver or victim, she had become a soldier, a leader, a symbol of defiance.

Full-Scale Invasion: Women in Wartime

The 2022 Russian invasion catapulted women into every conceivable role. Millions became refugees or internally displaced, bearing the brunt of caregiving and household management amid upheaval. At the same time, women mobilised across sectors: organising humanitarian aid, documenting war crimes, serving in territorial defence (reservists) and enlisting in the armed forces.

By 2025 estimates suggest that over 60,000 women serve in Ukraine’s military, many on the front lines. The Ministry of Defence has instituted more robust policies to support gender integration although challenges remain, especially in combat unit cohesion and career advancement.

Wartime has also deepened risks. Reports of sexual violence by Russian forces in occupied areas have brought global attention to the use of rape as a weapon of war. Ukrainian women’s rights activists have worked closely with international organisations to document abuses, provide support to survivors and lobby for justice.

Meanwhile the role of women in diplomacy, journalism and policy-making has grown. Women have become visible in Ukraine’s international advocacy efforts, symbolising both the resilience and the democratic values the nation seeks to uphold.

Looking Forward: The Gendered Future of Reconstruction

As Ukraine contemplates her post-war future, gender equity is increasingly seen as integral to national recovery. Women-led organisations are helping shape discussions on reconstruction, veterans’ affairs, trauma care and economic development. There is a growing recognition that rebuilding Ukraine is not just a question of bricks and borders, but of values—and that women must be central to that effort.

Challenges persist. Economic inequality, underrepresentation, and gender-based violence remain entrenched. But wartime has also accelerated the redefinition of gender roles, opened new spaces for leadership, and catalysed a broader feminist consciousness.

Ukraine’s story of women’s rights is still being written—in parliaments and trenches, shelters and courtrooms, refugee camps and classrooms. From the collapse of the Soviet state to the crucible of war, Ukrainian women have refused to be consigned to the margins. They are now, more than ever, at the heart of the nation’s struggle for sovereignty, democracy and dignity.