For Kseniia Mishyna, the concept of a “normal” day vanished three years ago, replaced by a relentless cycle of service that defies the biological need for rest. As the village head overseeing four distinct communities in the heart of war-torn Ukraine, Mishyna has become a symbol of a broader, often overlooked phenomenon: the female-led backbone of the nation’s resistance. She spends her hours orchestrating the safe evacuation of families, navigating treacherous routes to reach isolated front-line settlements, and delivering life-sustaining humanitarian aid to areas where the very concept of infrastructure has been pulverized. “I can’t imagine myself anywhere else,” she admits, even as she struggles to recall the last time she experienced the luxury of a full night’s sleep or a meal eaten in peace. Her story is not an outlier; it is the blueprint for a new era of Ukrainian leadership.
As the invasion of Ukraine grinds into its third year, the global community is beginning to grasp a sobering reality: war is never gender-neutral. While the headlines often focus on territorial gains and heavy weaponry, a parallel crisis is unfolding within the social fabric of the country. For women and girls, the conflict has not only upended their physical safety but has triggered a cascading series of gendered catastrophes. Displacement has stripped millions of their support networks, while the collapse of traditional industries has led to a devastating loss of income. Perhaps most harrowing is the documented surge in gender-based violence, a “shadow pandemic” that thrives in the chaos of conflict.
Despite these overwhelming challenges, the international response has frequently fallen into the trap of “gender-blind” aid. When humanitarian strategies fail to account for the specific needs of women—ranging from reproductive healthcare and menstrual hygiene to the protection of female-headed households—they do more than just overlook a demographic; they place lives in direct jeopardy. Without a deliberate focus on gender equality, the recovery process risks entrenching old inequalities rather than dismantling them.
However, where traditional systems have faltered, Ukrainian women have stepped into the breach with extraordinary agency. One of the most remarkable shifts observed since 2022 is the total transformation of the Ukrainian economy. Women are no longer just keeping households together; they are powering the wartime marketplace. In a stunning display of entrepreneurial spirit, women launched 59 percent of all new sole proprietorships in 2024. This is a significant leap from the 51 percent recorded in 2021, prior to the full-scale invasion. Over the last three years, the total share of female entrepreneurs in the country has surged from 40 percent to a commanding 61 percent. These women-led businesses are the invisible threads holding the national economy together, ensuring that families remain fed and local markets remain functional even as the front lines shift.
This economic mobilization has been bolstered by strategic support from international donors, organizations, and private citizens. UN Women has been a pivotal partner in this journey, channeling resources that do more than just provide temporary relief—they unlock long-term opportunities. By focusing on economic empowerment, these initiatives ensure that women are not merely recipients of charity but are the architects of their own financial destiny.
The battle for Ukraine’s future is being fought in courtrooms and parliament as much as on the battlefield. History shows that during times of war, progress toward gender equality can be set back by decades if laws and budgets ignore the lived realities of women. Recognizing this risk, UN Women has been working in tandem with the Ukrainian government and lawmakers to safeguard rights and advance inclusive policies. Since 2022, more than 15 significant laws and strategies have been enacted, specifically designed to protect women’s access to services and ensure their participation in high-level decision-making.
A landmark achievement arrived in 2025 with the passage of a law mandating “gender-responsive budgeting” across all government institutions. This legislative milestone ensures that public funds are not distributed haphazardly but are intentionally directed toward sectors that disproportionately impact women and girls, such as education, specialized healthcare, and safety infrastructure. This law, combined with the National Strategy for Gender Equality 2022–2030, ensures that as Ukraine begins the monumental task of rebuilding, women are not an afterthought but a central pillar of the recovery plan.
The disparity in international funding, however, remains a point of concern. In 2023, of the $19.2 billion in allocable aid provided to Ukraine, only $3.6 billion included any objectives related to gender equality. Even more startling is the fact that less than half a percent of total aid was dedicated to gender equality as a principal objective. This funding gap highlights a critical disconnect between the rhetoric of “building back better” and the actual financial commitment to the women who are doing the heavy lifting on the ground.
In the absence of adequate global funding, local women-led organizations have emerged as the true lifelines of the resistance. The UN Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF) has supported over 65 such organizations across 20 regions. These groups operate in the “red zones”—areas under constant threat from drone strikes and missile barrages. They provide everything from psychological trauma support to the distribution of winter supplies, often reaching communities that larger international NGOs find too dangerous to enter.
Perhaps the most visible shift in societal norms is found within the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Today, more than 70,000 women serve in the military, representing an unprecedented demographic shift in what was once a heavily male-dominated institution. Of these, at least 5,500 are stationed in active combat zones, serving as snipers, medics, and drone operators. This is not merely about filling gaps in the ranks; it is a profound assertion of dignity and agency. Ukrainian women are refusing to be viewed as passive victims of aggression; they are claiming their right to defend their sovereignty.
This spirit of breaking barriers extends to the civilian recovery effort as well. In professions previously reserved for men, women are now taking the lead. Training programs are equipping women to serve as municipal bus drivers and, perhaps most critically, as deminers. Tetiana Rubanka, who pivoted her career to join the humanitarian demining effort, embodies this new frontier. “What seems ‘not a woman’s job’ may turn out to be your mission,” she says. Rubanka’s work involves the painstaking task of clearing explosives from Ukrainian soil so that farmers can return to their fields and children can play safely. “We are strong. We can do it all!” she asserts, a sentiment that echoes across the country.
Despite this incredible fortitude, the path forward is fraught with peril. As global attention shifts and geopolitical fatigue sets in, the very organizations that have sustained the Ukrainian people are being stretched to their breaking point. Global aid cuts threaten to dismantle the progress made over the last three years. If these services vanish, the safety nets for survivors of violence will crumble, and the economic gains made by female entrepreneurs could be erased.
The struggle of Ukrainian women is a microcosm of a global fight. In an era where feminism faces a “creeping” backlash in many parts of the world, the women of Ukraine are standing as a bulwark against the erosion of rights. They are demanding a future where their voices are not just heard but are foundational to the state’s architecture. They are not asking for permission to lead; they are already leading where others cannot.
This is a pivotal moment for the international community. For 15 years, UN Women has championed the rights of women and girls globally, and their work in Ukraine represents one of their most urgent mandates to date. Supporting this mission is not just an act of charity; it is an investment in a more stable, equitable, and resilient world. The women of Ukraine have proven they have the courage to transform their nation. Now, they require the sustained solidarity of the world to ensure that their vision of an equal future becomes a reality. The time to act is not when the war ends, but now, while the foundations of the new Ukraine are being laid by the very women who refuse to let it fall.
