State of the World from NPR The Women Fighting on Ukraine’s Front Lines
Nov 12, 2025
Joanna Kakissis, NPR's fearless Ukraine correspondent, shares gripping stories of women at the front lines of Ukraine's military. She highlights the rising number of female soldiers and their diverse roles, from training as drone operators to commanding platoons. Personal accounts reveal their motivations, with some like Daria grappling with family secrets while others like combat medic Olena express deep commitment despite the emotional toll. Their resilience underscores the courage and resolve of women standing firm in wartime.
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Young Recruit Chooses to Lead
- Marina Mitsuk trains at a firing range and enrolled at Ukraine's National Defense University in 2023.
- She graduated this summer and can now serve as an officer, choosing to fight though women are exempt from the draft.
Rapid Rise In Female Military Participation
- Women now make up about 8% of Ukraine's armed forces and that number rose 40% since 2021.
- Legal changes since 2018 opened combat roles and military universities to women, shifting a previously patriarchal system.
Young Drone Operators Face Surprise
- Yevgenia and Dasha joined a National Guard brigade in 2024 and work with aerial reconnaissance drones.
- Yevgenia says male soldiers often ask why she's there and she answers simply that she has to be there.