KHARKIV, Ukraine (AP) — When Russia’s full-scale invasion began nearly four years ago, the 26-year-old soldier known as Monka didn’t see a combat role he could play. But that changed as technology reshaped the battlefield and opened up new avenues.
Last year, she joined the military as a pilot of short-range, first-person view, or FPV, drones after leaving her job managing a restaurant overseas to return home to serve in Ukraine.
Her change is part of a larger trend of more women joining combat roles in Ukraine’s military, a shift made possible by technological changes in modern warfare, military officials said.
“The fact that the technology allows us to deliver munitions without hand-carrying or driving to the front line — it’s incredible,” said Monca, who serves in the Third Army Corps’ unmanned systems battalion. She and the other women followed Ukraine’s military protocol by identifying themselves using their call signs.
More than 70,000 women served in Ukraine’s military in 2025, a 20% increase from 2022, with more than 5,500 serving directly on the front lines, according to Ukraine’s Defense Ministry.
Some units have tailored recruitment efforts for women, expanding rosters in a sign that Ukraine is looking to strengthen and expand its military as peace talks weigh a potential cap on the future size of the army.
Leaders in the capital Kiev and many soldiers like Monka see the army as one of the few security guarantees Ukraine has against Russia.
“We need everyone – engineers, pilots, IT specialists, programmers, we just need brains. It’s not about men or women. We need people who are ready to work hard,” she said.
As technology changes, more women seek combat work
Drone piloting is one of the most popular combat professions in the Ukrainian military that women have chosen, military officials said.
When Imla, from the Kraken 1654 unit, gave up his career as a professional hockey player to join the military, the 27-year-old initially planned to become a combat paramedic.
She spent her first six months as a platoon medic, but the job required learning to fly a drone. She started with small ones before moving on to larger bomb-carrying models and eventually switching to full-time drone work.
Imla vividly remembers her first drone flight, a reconnaissance mission. When they handed her the controller, she was so nervous that her hands wouldn’t stop shaking.
“Honestly, I wanted to cry at some moments,” she recalled. “But then, over time, you’ll build experience on the job and start to feel confident.”
The Charter Corps has added more women to its ranks, reporting a 20% increase since 2024. About six months ago, the brigade launched a recruitment drive targeting women for combat and technical roles in collaboration with the Dignitas Foundation, a charity that supports technical innovation and technological development projects in Ukraine.
“In recent months, dozens of women have joined us in combat roles and are working successfully,” said Volodymyr Dehtyarov, Khartiya Corps public affairs officer. “The more technology we have, like drones, the more historically male occupations open up.”
Khartia has begun training officers and future commanders on how to work with mixed units, including people of different ages, genders and backgrounds, which Dehtyarov said helps commanders become more effective leaders.
Women still face barriers
The Ukrainian army remains conservative at its core and some units do not make it easy for women.
The 25-year-old soldier with the call sign Yaha joined the army in 2023 and initially did paperwork as an army clerk. After three months, she started asking to participate in drone courses. The commanders at the time did not respond enthusiastically and instead suggested he replace Cook.
“It was unpleasant for me, because I didn’t expect such uncomfortable conditions, such strict limits,” said Yaha.
In the kitchen, she spent her free time studying drone manuals, practicing on the simulator and training at computer clubs with the controller she bought.
“I liked that you could hit the enemy from a distance,” she said. “So I thought this is our future.”
Eventually, she became a bomber-drone pilot in the 9th Brigade.
“War is not cool or glamorous. It’s pain, suffering and loss. You only do it because you want to change the situation,” she said. “But you’re not invincible. You’re just a person like everyone else.”
Chibi, a 20-year-old FPV technician from the Khartiya Brigade, prepares drones for the battlefield from a dark damp basement near the front line in eastern Ukraine.
She initially faced prejudice from soldiers who claimed she had less technical skills because she was a woman. But she also had a supportive male colleague who helped her take the first step towards becoming an FPV technician, which she finds more interesting than being a pilot.
“There needs to be more women in the military,” said Chibi, her hair dyed pink and dark blue. “The more women there are, the better the attitude towards them will be.”
The military needs more women
Olha Melosyana, a spokeswoman for Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Force, says the belief that the role of drones is secure is wrong, as the Russians actively hunt down drone operators.
Their unit is seeing more women move into technical roles, including drone operations, drone maintenance and electronic warfare, as drones become one of the main tools for strike and reconnaissance on the battlefield.
According to Melosina, women make up 4.2% of the unmanned systems force, which she considers significant because women join voluntarily.
“We are part of the new Ukrainian army that was formed at the time of the invasion. So in terms of gender-based acceptance in the armed forces, we have never divided – the important thing for us is desire and motivation,” she said.
She said that she is planning to invite and recruit 15,000 people, including women, by conducting a recruitment campaign focused on more media. Recruiters say women are applying for both combat and non-combat positions.
“The unmanned system forces are a system, and it’s made up of people — men and women,” Meloshina said. “No drone is autonomous. It requires human involvement. And the more personnel we have, the more drones will fly toward Russia.”
