Despite remarkable resistance, the crisis in Ukraine disproportionately affects women and girls
Russia’s war on Ukraine began in February 2022 with devastating and immediate impacts on women and girls.

Indeed, a report by the United Nations found that women and girls in Ukraine and around the world have suffered disproportionately from the war’s impact on food, energy and finance.

https://twitter.com/unwomeneca/status/1521770269194571777

The crisis has forced many to make life-changing choices for the safety of their families and themselves.

Crisis for women and girls
Women’s participation has become essential to Ukraine’s survival and many, particularly young women, are becoming leaders in their communities and across the country.

There are growing calls for increased support of women’s unique needs, prioritised funding for women’s organisations and ensuring women’s voices are heard in decision-making processes regarding the humanitarian response in Ukraine.

“All crises and conflicts exact their highest price from women and girls,” says Sima Bahous, UN Under-Secretary-General Executive Director of UN Women.

https://youtu.be/q9ufd0Vdl7g

Women’s role on the frontline
Following Russia's invasion, Ukrainian women have bravely taken up arms and joined the fight for their country.

When Russia first invaded Crimea back in 2014, Ukrainian women were forbidden to fight in combat. A lot has changed since then, with Ukraine adopting legislation to give women equal status as men in the armed forces in 2018.

Now, Ukraine’s Deputy Defence Minister, Hanna Maliar says that more than 50,000 women are on the frontline, a figure which has risen significantly since the war began.

https://twitter.com/nexta_tv/status/1551176901301047296

Ukrainian women are also often first responders, making up most medical professionals – 83 percent.

https://twitter.com/unwomenukraine/status/1544654208099557377 

Women-led volunteering efforts
The vital roles of women during war can become obscured when women are left out of local decision making. 

According to UN Women Ukraine, 97 per cent of Ukrainian women are excluded from decision-making processes that affect their lives. And yet, these women are spearheading volunteer efforts, with 70 per cent working as active volunteers and 36 per cent leading assistance to victims of the war in Ukraine.

https://twitter.com/unwomenukraine/status/1573567915412008960

Olena Zelenska’s leadership
Ukraine’s First Lady, Olena Zelenska uses her platform to speak out on this issue.

Zelenska has posted messages about the unique resilience and resistance of Ukraine’s women. In July, she travelled to the US at Dr Jill Biden’s invitation to be an official representative of the Ukrainian government.

Around that same time, she also released photographs with Vogue to show the world the wartime realities and advocate for her country.

https://twitter.com/voguemagazine/status/1551901521180229632 

While Zelenska received some criticism for the photoshoot, her response was powerful, saying, “I’m using every opportunity to speak about Ukraine and that was a massive opportunity because millions of people read Vogue.”

“To be able to speak to [the publication’s readers] directly, that was my duty.”

“I believe that it’s better to do something and be criticised than to do nothing.”

https://twitter.com/LucyHockingsBBC/status/1552711694790557702

Putting an end to increased violence against women
With violence against women on the rise after Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukraine’s parliament has established standards for the government to protect women and girls.

There’s rallying support behind the Violence Against Women Treaty, with many calling for its ratification. This could prevent violence against all women and girls, support survivors and hold abusers accountable.

As the demographic most vulnerable to conflict-related sexual violence in private and public places, young women activists have been raising awareness of this violence using creative demonstrations and protests as another way to fight back.

https://mobile.twitter.com/KyivIndependent/status/1557368582740344833

Women’s impact on disrupted education
Conflict causes immense disruption to a country’s education and in Ukraine, the current situation is that 7.5 million children, both girls and boys are now without access to learning, according to UNESCO.

Many schools and places of education are unable to open during the war. According to UN Women, this leaves unpaid caring responsibilities primarily on the shoulders of women.

While gender roles are shifting in Ukraine, it’s women who largely forsake their jobs to care for their children and enable them to be home-schooled. Many Ukrainian women are determined to get education back on track for children.

One courageous teacher, Anastasia set up a school for war-affected children after fleeing Ukraine and arriving in Romania.

https://twitter.com/UNICEF/status/1575696943056945153