Women leading humanitarian aid and economic resilience after three years of war in Ukraine
attack that hit Okhmatdyt hospital, Ukraine's largest children's medical centre. Photo: UNICEF/UNI608590/Filippov
As Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine completes three years of devastation, more than 1.8 million women and girls are internally displaced and less than half of them have employment. Thousands of lives have been lost, the need for humanitarian assistance is rising, and domestic violence rates are surging.
Yet, resilience in Ukraine has a woman’s face.
Ukrainian women are at the forefront, delivering humanitarian aid, leading the country’s economic recovery, and holding their communities together. Today, one in every two businesses in Ukraine is founded by a woman.
UN Women calls for renewed support and investment in women’s rights organizations and women leaders to deliver humanitarian assistance, participate in early recovery and in peace processes.
women and girls are internally displaced
only 48 per cent of displaced women were employed compared to 71 per cent of men in 2024
almost 6.7 million women are in need of humanitarian assistance
Sources: IOM Internal Displacement Report; IOM: Employment, Mobility and Labour Market Dynamics in Ukraine; OCHA: Ukraine.
Women of Ukraine rising in resilience
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6.7 million women are in humanitarian assistance. UN Women is committed to supporting the people of Ukraine, especially the women and girls, at this time of greatest need.
Three years of full-scale war in Ukraine roll back decades of progress for women’s rights, safety and economic opportunities
Three years on, the toll of Russia’s mass attacks on Ukraine continues to have a devastating for women and girls, with 6.7 million women in need of humanitarian assistance, 1,869,000 internally displaced, and thousands killed. UN Women is calling for urgent action to scale up support to women and girls.
