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Expecting on the Front Lines: Motherhood in Ukraine’s Military

www.nytimes.com

nytimes.com

http://archive.today/2025.08.25-144023/https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/25/world/europe/ukraine-military-war-pregnancy.html

Crouching in a trench on the front lines in eastern Ukraine, Olena felt the ovulation app on her phone buzz.

“I realized that I really needed to be at home making a baby, not sitting in this trench,” recalled Olena, a combat medic. But that wasn’t an immediate option, and her desire to start a family was as strong as her need to serve.

After about six months of trying — navigating appointments with fertility doctors around her limited leave — “it finally happened,” said Olena, who like other women interviewed for this article requested that only her first name be used for reasons of military protocol. She got pregnant, but continued to serve.

While some people might think fighting a war while pregnant is crazy, Olena said, she sees it “a bit differently.” She added, “War is war, but life goes on.”

Ukraine’s military is finding it hard to recruit young men as the war with Russia grinds on, but women — all volunteers — are a bright spot. The number of women serving has grown more than 20 percent to about 70,000 since Russia’s invasion in 2022.

While the U.S. Army and many other militaries remove pregnant soldiers from combat zones, Ukrainian women usually serve until their seventh month. And that is in a military that doctors and soldiers say is ill-equipped to support them — from uniforms that don’t fit pregnant women, to a lack of prenatal care and nurseries — amid the costs and challenges of fighting the war.

Despite the hardships, many pregnant soldiers say they understand the military has more pressing priorities and that they are motivated to serve for the future of Ukraine — and their children.

Nadia said that after her baby was born, she was allowed 126 days of paid leave if she wanted to return to the front. Otherwise, she could take off three years, unpaid.

Valentyna cut short her maternity leave to return to service.

In the military since 2019, she had worked as an infantry mechanic before the full-scale invasion — an unusual role for a woman.

“I wanted to challenge society by saying that a woman in a complex combat position can perform her duties on an equal footing with a man,” Valentyna said.

Maj. Viktoria Kravchenko has served in Ukraine’s military for over 16 years and is a psychologist who has researched the issue of sexism in the armed forces. She said women who get pregnant can face considerable barriers, like commanders who question their decision to return to the fight after having babies or their fitness to serve.

“I am grateful that I am bringing children into the world,” she said. “Considering how many lives we are losing now, I also see it as my divine mission.”

“Our children are the future of this country,” said Olya, 39, a combat medic in eastern Ukraine who gave birth to a girl in May. “We have to protect our children. And we have to liberate the country for their future.”

She initially kept her pregnancy a secret, fearful she might get reassigned.

But when bleeding landed her in the hospital for a week in December, Olya had to inform her commander. Doctors advised her to “take it easy,” according to Olya. She said that was hard to do as she was the only medic in her company and “the guys still need medical help.” Her commander made some adjustments, and Olya stopped going into combat positions.

She bristled at the suggestion that some might question her priorities. “I’m ready to assume responsibility that I am near the combat zone with my child. I do everything to protect her,” Olya said. “I have to stay and help here.”

While Olya has officially quit the military, she plans to re-enlist in a year or so. “We have very few people left with the necessary level of experience and professionalism,” she said. “And this is a long game, so we are needed.”

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