Since February 2022, the people of Ukraine have courageously defended their country against Russia’s full-scale invasion. This struggle has become a shared responsibility and collective effort of the entire Ukrainian society. Shoulder to shoulder, men and women continue every day to defend Ukraine’s freedom, independence and future. Today, more than 75,000 women serve in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, with approximately 10,000 deployed in active combat zones.
Many female soldiers still use equipment that is not designed for the female anatomy — body armour, uniforms and other military gear originally developed for men. This restricts mobility, increases physical strain and, in critical situations, can create additional risks to their lives.
This is not a matter of comfort or ergonomics. It is about the importance of specialised equipment that directly affects safety and the ability to carry out combat missions effectively.
The charity campaign "Women Defend. Latvia Supports." aims to once again draw attention to Ukraine’s ongoing struggle against Russian aggression, which has continued for almost five years. The war continues to claim lives, destroy families and shatter hopes for the future. It is therefore essential not to lose focus and to continue supporting Ukraine by seeking new ways to assist both its people and its armed forces. Every life matter, and if we have the opportunity to help by contributing to the purchase of body armour and other protective equipment, we should do so.
At the heart of this fundraising campaign are the women serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the need to provide them with properly fitted equipment that meets the real demands of combat and military service, including body armour, uniforms and seasonally appropriate gear.
The cost of one complete equipment set - a uniform (mid-season or winter), body armour, helmet, tactical boots, sleeping bag and sleeping mat - is EUR 1,000.
Since March 2022, the Ukrainian non-governmental organisation Zemliachky has been providing women in the military with properly fitted equipment. It has fulfilled more than 31,000 individual requests and aided worth over UAH 255 million (approximately EUR 6.375 million). It also develops military uniforms for women based on direct experience and feedback from female service members on the front line.
The fundraising campaign, organised to mark the 35th anniversary of Ukraine’s Independence Day on 24 August, is being implemented in cooperation with the Speaker of the Saeima of the Republic of Latvia, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, the Latvian Federation of Security and Defence Industries (DAIF Latvia), Ziedot.lv, the National Armed Forces of Latvia and the NGO Women’s Cooperation Network.
Every donation will help ensure that women serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine have the equipment they need to perform their duties safely, effectively and with confidence while defending the security of Ukraine and Europe as a whole.
The Project is placed online on: 17.06.2026
Ziedot.lv for donations does not charge any commissions or brokerage fees. All the donated money reaches 100% for its intended purpose. Ziedot.lv administrative costs not covered by your donations.
