Four years have passed since the morning of February 24, 2022, when the world watched in horror as a full-scale invasion reshaped the European continent. For the people of Ukraine, those four years have been defined by a relentless struggle for existence. The narrative often focuses on the movements of battalions and the exchange of heavy artillery, but beneath the headlines of geopolitical maneuvering lies a domestic reality of staggering hardship. As of February 2026, daily life remains a gauntlet of economic instability, constant security threats, and the psychological toll of displacement. Families continue to endure brutal winters marked by systematic attacks on energy infrastructure, leaving cities in darkness and apartments without heat for weeks on end.
Yet, there is a second, equally powerful story that has emerged from the smoke of the conflict—a story of a nation held together by its women. From the first sirens, Ukrainian women have been the architects of the civilian resistance. They have transformed schools into shelters, kept local economies breathing, served on the front lines of both combat and care, and navigated the complexities of aid distribution when international logistics faltered. They are the managers of community kitchens in Kyiv’s Troyeshyna district and the psychologists helping children process the sound of air raid sirens. However, this essential backbone of the Ukrainian defense is now facing its most precarious moment yet.
Today, a new and silent emergency is unfolding: a funding crisis that threatens to dismantle the very networks that have kept the country functional. As international attention shifts and donor fatigue sets in, women’s organizations in Ukraine are witnessing a catastrophic decline in foreign assistance. In 2025 alone, these organizations lost an estimated USD 27.4 million in external support. Projections for 2026 are equally grim, with a further USD 25 million expected to vanish from operating budgets. This is not just a statistical decline; it is a direct threat to the lives of the most vulnerable. When these organizations lose funding, the price is paid by refugee women, single mothers, women with disabilities, and survivors of gender-based violence who rely on these grassroots networks for their very survival.
UN Women has remained a constant presence on the ground, advocating for a recovery that is not only effective but gender-responsive. The organization’s work highlights five critical pillars where women’s leadership is currently bridging the gap between total collapse and community resilience.
First, women-led organizations are the primary responders on the humanitarian front lines. In cities like Dnipro, which serves as a massive hub for hundreds of thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs), local groups like “I Know You Can” have stepped in where larger international NGOs often cannot reach. They provide more than just food; they offer psychological lifelines to women with disabilities who have lost their homes. In Sumy and other front-line regions, organizations such as “Women’s Space” and “Girls” provide a holistic suite of services—legal aid, hygiene vouchers, and microgrants that allow women to start small businesses in the middle of a war zone. Since 2022, the Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF), in partnership with UN Women, has funneled over USD 26 million to these grassroots efforts, ensuring that over 150,000 women and girls have access to emergency shelter and mental health support.
Second, the coordination of this aid is being revolutionized through the Gender in Humanitarian Action (GiHA) Working Group. Effective humanitarianism is not merely about the volume of goods delivered; it is about the precision of the response. Co-chaired by UN Women, NGO Girls, and CARE, this platform unites more than 400 organizations. By bringing survivor-led groups, Roma activists, and LGBTIQ+ organizations to the table, GiHA ensures that the “invisible” populations of Ukraine are not left out of recovery plans. This coordination ensures that aid is not a one-size-fits-all solution but a targeted intervention that understands the specific risks faced by different demographics.
Third, the economic survival of the nation depends on integrating women into the workforce in unprecedented ways. The statistics are stark: women now represent 81 percent of all registered unemployed individuals in Ukraine. The conflict has decimated traditional industries while simultaneously increasing the burden of unpaid care work, as schools close and elderly relatives require more attention. UN Women’s “Women for the Future” initiative has addressed this by connecting 80,000 women with mentorship and employment opportunities.
Perhaps most striking is the shift into non-traditional sectors. Through the “She Drives” project, women are breaking long-standing stereotypes to fill critical labor shortages in the transport sector. In Kyiv, eight out of ten municipal bus drivers are now women who graduated from these specialized training programs. Similar successes are seen in the “Dream and Achieve Academy,” where over 10,000 female entrepreneurs have been trained to pivot their businesses to survive a wartime economy. These programs do more than provide a paycheck; they provide the agency and independence necessary for long-term stability.
Fourth, the future of Ukraine’s democracy relies on women’s political participation and leadership in recovery planning. Launched in 2024 by the governments of Ukraine and Germany alongside UN Women, the Alliance on Gender-Responsive and Inclusive Recovery now boasts over 100 members, including private sector giants like Ferrexpo. This mining leader has demonstrated that even in heavy industry, gender equality is a business imperative, increasing women’s representation in senior roles from 18 to 24.5 percent during the war. On the political stage, the “She Leads Ukraine” program has already trained 600 women in leadership skills to address the current imbalance in government. As of late 2025, women held only 22 percent of parliamentary seats and a fraction of cabinet and regional leadership positions. Correcting this is not just about fairness; it is about ensuring that the peace that eventually comes is one that reflects the needs of the entire population.
Finally, women are taking the lead in one of the most dangerous and essential aspects of reconstruction: mine action. Ukraine is currently one of the most mine-contaminated nations on earth, with roughly 139,000 square kilometers—over a fifth of the country—potentially littered with explosive remnants. This contamination prevents farmers from planting crops and families from returning to their villages. While women make up 30 percent of the demining workforce, they have historically been relegated to administrative roles. The “She Demines” project is changing this, training 300 women in technical fieldwork. By literally clearing the path for their communities, these women are proving that there is no part of the recovery process they cannot lead.
As we look toward the future of Ukraine, the message is clear: the resilience of the nation is inextricably linked to the empowerment of its women. They are not merely victims of a conflict; they are the most effective agents of change and recovery. However, resilience has its limits, and those limits are being tested by the current funding shortfall. To withdraw support now is to undermine the very foundation of Ukraine’s civilian defense.
The international community must recognize that investing in Ukrainian women is not an act of charity—it is a strategic investment in a stable, democratic, and self-sufficient Ukraine. Whether through the light of a smartphone in a dark Kyiv apartment or the technical precision of a demining field in Kharkiv, the women of Ukraine are doing the work. It is time for the rest of the world to ensure they have the resources to finish it. Support must be sustained, flexible, and directed toward the organizations that know their communities best. Standing with the women of Ukraine today is the only way to ensure a viable tomorrow for the nation.
