27/11/2025
"People stopped caring who was a woman or who wasn't," says Elisabeth, a 30-year-old first-person-view drone pilot. "They cared who could fly." Her words capture a profound shift in Ukraine's military as mounting casualties force the rapid expansion of drone operations and the integration of women into frontline combat roles. These operators work just kilometers from Russian positions, frequently targeted by artillery and enemy drones, completing only 15 days of intensive training before deployment -- a timeline that reflects Ukraine's desperate need for personnel after three years of war following Russia's invasion in 2022. Gender has become increasingly irrelevant in units where survival and capability matter more than tradition.
The stories of three women illustrate this transformation. Dasha, a 37-year-old commander on the eastern front, never expected to serve but stepped up as men from her region were killed or mobilized. “It wasn’t about whether I was ready,” she observed. “It was about the fact that there were fewer people left.” With her two children now living in Europe and her 89-year-old father a survivor of World War II, her motivation is clear: "I don't want my children to become the next generation of war children. That's all the motivation I need."
Ilona, 24, enrolled at a civilian drone school after watching aerial attacks intensify, quickly learning that "drone operators are hunted -- you feel it from the first day." With no military experience and initially doubting she would fit in, she joined hundreds of civilians on waiting lists for training each month. The training centers themselves operate covertly, frequently changing locations after being targeted. What strikes her most is not the danger but the overwhelming demand for operators. "So many men my age are already gone," she says. "Someone has to take their place."
Kudos to these brave women!
To read the full piece and view photos of these courageous women in The Guardian, visit https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/nov/26/women-flying-drones-ukraine-frontline-casualties-recruitment-combat
For a moving memoir by a 12-year-old Ukrainian girl about living through the Russian invasion: "You Don't Know What War Is: The Diary of a Young Girl from Ukraine" at https://bookshop.org/a/8011/9781454949695 (Bookshop) and https://amzn.to/4hGd6Oy (Amazon)
For another contemporary book about twin sisters who are separated due to the war, we recommend "Kidnapped From Ukraine" for ages 10 and up at https://bookshop.org/a/8011/9781546104513 (Bookshop) and https://amzn.to/4ki6mZ1 (Amazon)
For several powerful books about past Russian invasions and occupations told through the experience of teen girls, we highly recommend "The Endless Steppe" (https://www.amightygirl.com/the-endless-steppe) and "Words on Fire" (https://www.amightygirl.com/words-on-fire), both for ages 10 and up, and "Between Shades of Gray" for ages 13 and up (https://www.amightygirl.com/between-shades-of-gray)
For more books for tweens and teens about girls who resisted authoritarian regimes throughout history, visit our blog post "The Fragility of Freedom: Mighty Girl Books About Life Under Authoritarianism" at https://www.amightygirl.com/blog?p=32426
