When Russia’s full-scale invasion began nearly four years ago, a 26-year-old soldier known as Monka didn’t see a combat role she could do.

But that changed as technology reshaped the battlefield and opened new paths.

Last year she joined the military as a pilot of short-range, first-person view, or FPV, drones after, giving up a job managing a restaurant abroad and returning home to Ukraine to serve.

Her shift is part of a larger trend of more women joining Ukraine's military in combat roles, a change made possible by the technological transformation of modern warfare, military officials say.

"For three years I went on different courses, to different training (sessions), chose who I wanted to become and tried myself out as a pilot and I liked it," said Monka, who serves in the Unmanned Systems Battalion of the Third Army Corps.

She and other women followed Ukraine’s military protocol by identifying themselves using only their call signs.

More than 70,000 women served in Ukraine's military in 2025, a 20% increase compared to 2022, including over 5,500 deployed directly on the front line, according to Ukraine’s Defense Ministry.

Some units have tailored recruitment efforts toward women, expanding rosters in a sign that Ukraine is looking to strengthen and expand its army even as peace negotiations weigh a possible cap on the future size of the military.

Leaders in the capital Kyiv, as well as many soldiers like Monka, see the army as one of the few security guarantees that Ukraine has against Russia.

A drone pilot is one of the Ukrainian military's most popular combat professions chosen by women, military officials said.

When Imla from the Kraken 1654 unit left her 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 drones.

She started with small ones before moving to larger models carrying bombs and eventually switching to full-time drone work.

Imla clearly remembers her first drone flight, a reconnaissance mission.

When they handed her the controller, she was so nervous her hands wouldn’t stop shaking.

“There are a lot of stereotypes, a lot of people say that women are not accepted into the army,” she recalled.

“But I joined the 3rd Assault Brigade back then and there is a spirit of brotherhood here, everyone here has the same goal, everyone supports you.”

The Khartiia Corps has taken more women into its ranks, reporting a 20% increase since 2024.

About six months ago, the brigade launched a recruitment campaign aimed at women for combat and technological roles in cooperation with the Dignitas Foundation, a charity organization supporting Ukraine by funding technological innovation and civic development projects.

In recent months, dozens of women have joined us in combat roles and are working successfully, said the Khartiia Corps Public Affairs Officer.

He noted the campaign provided an initial boost and continues to work through word-of-mouth.

He said technology was opening up historically male professions to women.

Khartiia has started training officers and future commanders how to work with mixed units including people of different ages, genders and backgrounds, which he said helps commanders become more effective leaders.

A former music teacher with a callsign Muse found herself as a signal specialist in Khartiia brigade.

She tried to find her place in the army from the start of Russian full-scale invasion in 2022, but many brigades refused her because of her age and gender. 

"I had to learn a new profession from scratch, because as you know, teaching at school and signals are slightly different things", she recalled.

"I have a great team, guys who help me, give me advice, teach me, and over time I get more and more information and I really like it."

AP video shot by: Vasilisa Stepanenko