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As Ukraine enters the third year of russia's full-scale invasion, the number of demobilized soldiers continues to rise. Currently, there is a lack of government programs specifically targeting the needs of women returning from the army, despite their growing presence in the Armed Forces. Approaches to social and psychological reintegration are universal and fail to address the unique challenges women face when adapting to civilian life. These difficulties are driven by differences in societal expectations, gender roles and the distinct experiences gained during and after the war.

Psychological challenges. Many veterans face post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and struggle to find accessible psychological support. Female veterans often confront additional trauma, such as sexism and public hostility. However, Ukraine's mental health system is under-resourced and ill-equipped to address these gender-specific issues. The limited number of trained psychologists, particularly those skilled in treating women's experiences, further exacerbates the problem.

Economic challenges. As women veterans face numerous barriers in finding employment, it is essential to expand qualification enhancement programs, create retraining opportunities for female veterans seeking new professions, and provide specialized training for employment center staff on gender-sensitive communication and addressing the needs of women veterans.

Ongoing gender biases: Ukrainian society continues to recognize men’s and women’s contributions to the war effort in unequal ways. This disparity frequently results in women veterans being underappreciated, which further complicates their adaptation process.

Women veterans are an integral part of Ukraine's defense and