How Ukraine’s Women Veterans Movement, Veteranka, works: pt 1.

New uniforms created in the workshop of Veteranka.

For many centuries, women were often restricted to a few roles in the military or completely barred from joining the armed forces, as it was deemed “a man’s duty”. However, modern societies are increasingly rejecting these beliefs. In Ukraine, the decade-long war against Russia has demonstrated how crucial women’s contribution can be. It has shown that gender stereotypes need to be discarded, and at times of war, the entire society has to come together for a common goal — to defeat the enemy.

In Ukraine, the idea of gender equality in the military is championed by The Women Veterans Movement (WVM), also known as Veteranka. The movement emerged from the “Invisible Battalion” campaign, initiated in 2015 by veteran Maria Berlinska. Initially, the campaign explored the role of Ukrainian women in the war against Russia. It also aimed to raise awareness about the challenges faced by female service members, as well as to ensure equal conditions for women in the Armed Forces of Ukraine at the legislative level. Due to the “Invisible Battalion” efforts, the list of combat positions available to women in Ukraine has been significantly expanded.

In 2018, the “Invisible Battalion” led to the establishment of the public organisation Women Veterans Movement. This entity was the first in Ukraine to raise the issue of providing adequate material and technical support for female defenders at the state level. As of today, it has grown into a strong community of female veterans and service members who not only support each other but also drive change within the country.

The work of the Women Veterans Movement during the full-scale Russian invasion

Since 24 February 2022, most female veterans have returned to the front lines, while others, along with many other Ukrainian women, have joined the Women Veterans Movement as volunteers. They provide support through a rapid response headquarters, which was set up the day after the Russian full-scale invasion broke out.

Kateryna Pryimak, the organisation’s head, says the Women Veterans Movement is working hard to effectively meet the needs of female defenders on the front lines.

“In the two years since the full-scale invasion started, we have raised over 90 million hryvnias (roughly $2,135,000) for the front lines, not counting the support from our partners. The movement has delivered 98 vehicles, 1,961 drones, 34,000 pieces of ammunition and gear, and more.”

Kateryna Pryimak. Photo source: The Women Veterans Movement.

Kateryna shares that the movement has become a strong community for her, one that empowers her to drive change in the country.

“I am very proud of the organisation and the team. I can see how much we have grown. I remember how we started, and the difference in our development is huge. What I’m most proud of is that we don’t stop and have many more achievements to come. I’m proud of all the advocacy work we have done and our community, which now has over a thousand female veterans.”

The full-scale war has introduced new challenges, particularly regarding the proper state provision for female service members. The female defenders needed help not just with purchasing drones, vehicles, or night vision equipment but also with basic gear such as military uniforms, body armour, and helmets. At the beginning of the full-scale invasion, finding suitable clothing became one of the most common issues. At that time, Ukraine had only approved ceremonial military uniforms for women. As a result, Ukrainian women joining the Armed Forces received standard men’s uniforms they had to wear during service. Women often had to alter their uniforms or come up with creative ways to make them more comfortable — like using safety pins or belts. The Armed Forces also didn’t provide helmets, body armour, footwear, or even underwear specifically designed for women.

Photo source: The Women Veterans Movement.

The first female military uniforms were issued only in February 2024 and were summer field outfits. Before that, women had to either sew or alter their uniforms themselves or get them from volunteers and Ukrainian organisations. The Women Veterans Movement established its workshop to produce both winter and summer uniforms for female defenders. The organisation was one of the first in Ukraine to introduce field uniforms tailored to fit the anatomical features of women’s bodies. Over the past two years, Veteranka has produced and distributed around 700 sets of such uniforms for free to female defenders. In addition, the movement also manufactures camouflage coats for scouts, gaiters for artillery crews, and covers for drones, Stingers (an American portable surface-to-air missile system – ed.), and small infantry shovels.

Photo source: The Women Veterans Movement.

Veteranka also organises charity events, having successfully hosted over 50 of them that featured celebrities. They also held two charity photo exhibitions showcasing works created by female defenders and movement members. The Women Veteran Movement has collaborated with over 100 organisations and influencers and launched numerous awareness campaigns to raise funds for female defenders and their units. One notable campaign was the fundraiser game “Legend of Sister’s Power”, which raised nearly $150,000. This money was used to purchase 1,200 pairs of boots, seven drones, three vehicles, and five night vision devices. Another initiative, the “Ukraine on the Line” flash mob fundraiser, raised about $75,000 to buy communication equipment for the 35th Separate Marine Brigade named after Rear Admiral Mykhailo Ostrohradskyi.

Veteranka is also working on establishing a robust mechanism within the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) to combat sexual harassment and gender-based violence. In March, Kateryna Pryimak submitted a petition on the President of Ukraine’s website addressing this issue. The petition notes that dozens of sexual harassment cases have been reported within the AFU, many of which remain unresolved and the perpetrators unpunished. The petition has already gathered more than the required 25,000 signatures and is currently under consideration by the President. Among their new projects, the organisation is preparing a campaign to encourage more women to join the military.

Kateryna Pryimak with fellow sisters from the Veteranka movement. Photo source: Women Veterans Movement.

One of the movement’s key focuses is the rehabilitation of female veterans, which includes educational programs, psychological support, and peer-to-peer assistance. The members promote a proactive approach to reintegrating into Ukrainian civilian society and advocate for changes in the rehabilitation system. The organisation provides support to injured women, offering assistance and guidance during the recovery process for female service members.

They also extend their support for the families of military personnel, female veterans, and internally displaced persons facing difficult circumstances. In this regard, Veteranka offers assistance tailored to individual needs, providing both group and individual sessions with psychologists who focus on improving women’s mental health.

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Join us tomorrow for vignettes from the experiences of Veteranka members!

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The 1020th day of a ten-year invasion that has been going on for centuries.

One day closer to victory.

🇺🇦 HEROIAM SLAVA! 🇺🇦