군시온 Eliyahu Ezra - Gaming Blog

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For over 6,000 years, warfare has been closely associated with masculinity. From ancient tribal skirmishes to large-scale modern battles, men have predominantly filled the ranks of armies around the world. The image of a soldier, strong, rugged, and hardened by war was nearly always male. Yet history also tells of courageous women who took up arms, served as medics, spies, and even front-line fighters. Still, their presence remained the exception, not the rule.

That changed dramatically after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. For the first time in modern memory, a nation at war began to witness an extraordinary surge of women not only joining the military but taking on combat roles once considered taboo. More than 68,000 women now serve in Ukraine’s armed forces, including over 5,000 in active combat on the front lines. That’s more than the size of Germany’s entire ground force. In today’s Ukraine, female soldiers aren't just supporting the war, they’re fighting it head-on.

Historically, war has excluded women from direct combat. Even when they contributed like the Soviet snipers in World War II or combat medics in Vietnam, they often returned home to obscurity. To the modernation of military, Israel stands out as one of the earliest modern states to incorporate women into its national defense structure at scale and not just in support roles. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is one of the few militaries in the world where mandatory conscription applies to both men and women. Since the establishment of Israel in 1948, women have played key roles in its defense forces, though their functions were initially limited. Over time, however, women in the IDF began to break into combat units. As of 2023, women serve in infantry, artillery, air defense, tank crews, border patrol, and elite intelligence units. In fact, Israel has specialized mixed-gender combat battalions like Caracal, Bardelas, and Lions of the Jordan. 

Women in Israel have also been engaged in active combat during various wars and military operations from the Yom Kippur War to conflicts in Gaza. Their contributions challenge traditional gender roles and provide a precedent that nations like Ukraine are now following out of necessity and conviction. However, there are differences. In Israel, the integration of women into the military has been shaped by years of systemic infrastructure, legal support, and public expectation. Ukraine, by contrast, has had to adapt rapidly during wartime, often without such preparation. Ukrainian women are not conscripted but volunteer, often in the face of institutional reluctance. Yet both countries show that women can serve capably in combat roles when given the opportunity and support.

While Ukraine's surge in female combatants since 2022 has caught international attention, it is not the only nation with a strong tradition of women in military roles but Ukraine’s war has made these roles visible again. Women serve today as artillery operators, drone pilots, snipers, stormtroopers, and medics. Yet, their path is not smooth. Many women report being refused combat roles, their commanders doubting their strength or resolve. Instead, they’re offered desk jobs, admin work, clerical posts, or accounting roles they never asked for. "We want to hold weapons," many say. But access to the front line still comes with resistance.

Despite this, women are fighting for their right to fight. Marine Yaryna Chornoguz recalls how stepping into a male-dominated role comes with constant doubt and extra pressure. "You need to push through all that," she said. They do more than that. Women in Ukraine’s military often have to work twice as hard to prove they belong. Combat medic doing the sacrifice as much those comrades they try to save and have saved thousands of lives, often under direct fire. Ruslana Danilkina herself nearly died when a cluster shell hit her vehicle. She survived only because another medic nearby gave her life-saving aid. Her recovery now stands as a symbol of the sacrifices women make at war.

Others join out of personal conviction. Sergeant “Mavka” from the special operations forces said civilian life and volunteering wasn’t enough, she wanted to do more. Valentyna “Kuzia,” a mortar operator, joined to avenge fallen loved ones. Her commander promised her a bigger weapon for her "big revenge." Another female sniper joked that women are “made for the military” they’re smaller, less visible, need less fabric for uniforms, eat less, can go longer without food or water, and even have faster clotting blood. But these light-hearted remarks reflect deeper truth: Ukrainian women are not only stepping up, they’re thriving under pressure.

However, practical support still lags behind. Uniforms for women were nonexistent until recently. Most had to wear men’s boxers, alter gear themselves, or buy custom uniforms out of pocket. In 2024, the military ordered 65,000 women’s uniforms with better chest and collar fits, hip adjustments, and back drawstrings. But gaps remain. Access to hygiene products, medical supplies and tailored gear is still inconsistent. Even during training, women are expected to prove themselves through additional evaluations and physical trials. But many are rising to the challenge, determined to protect their homeland.

After training, many Ukrainian women face their enemies in deadly close encounters. Their combat missions are real, intense, and dangerous. They leave families behind, abandon comfortable lives, and embrace hardship not because they must, but because they believe they are needed. And they are. These women do not just symbolize change, they are change. They are reshaping the definition of the modern soldier.

While war has long been the province of men, Ukraine is showing the world a different picture. Driven by love of country, a desire for justice, and a stubborn refusal to be sidelined, Ukrainian women are rewriting what it means to be a warrior. Their determination, sacrifice, and courage deserve not just admiration, but full support from uniforms that fit, to roles that matter, to recognition that lasts. In today’s Ukraine, the future of warfare isn’t just male, it’s human, and it includes women with unshakable will, battle scars, and a purpose no one can ignore that there one thing they all agree on, they need ammo, the military aid to push for victory.