If Volodymyr Zelensky hopes that Donald Trump will continue to support Ukraine both militarily and financially, the country is struggling to keep the arms industry running.
When a country is at war, many sectors of activity find themselves in difficulty, very often arms production. And Ukraine is no exception. If recruiting manpower seems to be a major mission because men are mobilized to fight the Russian army, more and more women are participating in “the war effort”relates the magazine Geo.
Women in defense companies
According to figures from the Employers' Confederation, Ukraine has lost no less than “30% of its workforce potential”which represents nearly 5.5 million people of working age. But the country, which is suffering on certain front lines and lacking weapons, can count on the commitment of women in the conflict.
As a reminder, men are mobilized to take up arms and defend themselves against Vladimir Putin's men. Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly increased the minimum age for mobilization since the start of the conflict in February 2022.
“When my husband went to war, I understood that I also wanted to be useful. He is a drone pilot. So about a year ago, I decided to join small drone production”declares Halyna Yavorska to the media Politico. This Ukrainian is a lawyer but also works in a factory producing drones used by soldiers.
While some women decided to leave to protect children, millions of others stayed to help the country. Today, “they represent 38% of the workforce of the national defense group Ukroboronprom”relate Politico. These women are moving into several sectors of activity such as construction, truck driving but also in defense companies.
“The war hurts us, but it is also an opportunity for us to acquire a new profession, to revise our skills”argues the lawyer. If sexism and the glorification of the fighter are present in the country, these soldiers' wives do not feel any of that, according to them.
“A leading role”
“I have never encountered any form of sexism in this sector. We have a woman as head of the defense procurement agency, and a woman as deputy minister of strategic industries… Women occupy so many different positions”testifies another Ukrainian.
“Women must play a leading role in the country's economy. Because our men protect [l’Ukraine] and do everything so that the war does not reach us, we must help them at the front and take courses and learn other trades too”added the latter.
The country hopes that US support will continue after Donald Trump won the US presidential election against Kamala Harris. Ukraine is soon approaching its third year of war against Russia, and for the moment, there seems to be no sign of peace or an end to the conflict in the coming weeks.
