Ukrainian women’s football is prospering despite war, inequality

This article is part of our special report TARGET – youth football players as ambassadors for gender equality.

Gender inequality in sports continues to be a global issue, and Ukraine is no exception to that. Despite the desperate hardships brought by Russia’s invasion, Ukrainian women’s football has become a powerful symbol of resilience, unity, and progress.

For the third consecutive year, domestic competitions continue to be held, yet even before the war, women’s football was struggling with limited media coverage and rare television broadcasts, which hindered both its growth and public visibility.

To address these issues, the Ukrainian Association of Football (UAF) has joined the international social project TARGET, which aims to promote gender equality among young football players on and off the pitch. The initiative also has the support of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA).

Introducing girls to football

Under the TARGET project, the UAF has collected various good practices that it is implementing in children’s football teams and is at the forefront with meaningful gender-related initiatives.

UEFA Playmakers is an innovative programme launched in 2021 by UEFA in collaboration with national football associations, including the UAF, to introduce girls aged five to eight to football through play-based learning inspired by Disney storytelling.

The initiative creates a fun and supportive environment where young girls can develop vital life skills, make friends, and build confidence while fostering a passion for the sport.

In Ukraine, the programme has played a crucial role in supporting the well-being of girls, offering them a sense of connection and joy during difficult times.

A historic step

In March 2024, the UAF also launched an expert group on gender equality in football to address systemic gender disparities within the organisation and the broader Ukrainian football landscape. It was considered a historic step.

This group is tasked with identifying and combating gender discrimination, developing tools to challenge stereotypes and prevent gender-based violence, and ensuring a professional, coordinated response to these issues.

It also works to monitor discrimination cases, align efforts across all UAF departments, and collaborate with FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) and UEFA on joint equality initiatives.

Meanwhile, in March this year, coaches and instructors from Ukraine, as well as the other participating associations in the TARGET project, gathered in Italy to be trained in methodologies for conducting educational work on gender equality issues through football activities.

Top-level ambassadors

As part of the project, the UAF enlisted influential ambassadors to amplify the message of gender equality and promote it with impact.

Representing the project in Ukraine as the Female Ambassador is Darya Apanashchenko – an iconic figure in Ukrainian football, captain and striker of the national women’s team, and the record-holder for most appearances and goals scored.

Embodying one of the campaign’s mottos, #WINCONFIDENCE, Darya shares her personal journey, using three campaign videos to highlight different facets of the message: her growth as a professional athlete, her footballing skills, and the inclusive nature of football as a powerful tool for development, for both boys and girls.

The Male Ambassador, Anatolii Trubin, is the first-choice goalkeeper for Ukraine’s national men’s team and plays for SL Benfica in Lisbon.

A rising opinion leader, Trubin champions the motto #LOSEYOURSTEREOTYPES, advocating for gender equality as a path to a more successful and inclusive society where all talents are empowered to thrive.

He also actively supports the women’s game, reinforcing the importance of equal opportunities in sports.

Women’s football is prospering

Natia Pantsulaia, a prominent figure in the Ukrainian Premier League, speaks of improvements in infrastructure and medical support in women’s football.

However, she also notes that financial disparity, limited youth development pathways, and lingering sexism still hamper true equality in the sport.

She’s candid about the long road ahead. Gender equality in sport, she stresses, is deeply tied to broader societal change and investment in youth development. The footballer supports initiatives like TARGET as a means of fostering inclusivity and respect from a young age.

In Pantsulaia’s eyes, the future of women’s football in Ukraine hinges on building from the ground up: investing in academies, starting with children as young as five, and ensuring that money earmarked for development is used effectively.

Commitment to progress

Carlien Scheele, director of the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE), has commended Ukraine for its remarkable commitment to gender equality and human rights, even amid the ongoing war and humanitarian crisis.

Despite nearly 40 per cent of the population requiring aid, the country has shown exceptional resilience by prioritising gender equality, notably through the development of a Gender Equality Index.

Ukraine’s score of 61.4, ranking it hypothetically 20th among EU countries, underscores the country’s progress and the need for continued targeted policies.

[Edited By Brian Maguire | Euractiv's Advocacy Lab ]