The Ukrainian Armed Forces have received their first shipment of women's body armor
Female service members in the combat units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine have received body armor designed specifically to accommodate the female anatomy for the first time. The first batch of this personal protective equipment was procured at the request of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.
The Defense Procurement Agency of the State Logistics Operator purchased 2,000 women’s body armor vests this year for a total of 47 million hryvnias. They are intended for female service members in the combat units of the Defense Forces.
The new protective gear comes in configuration levels 1–5. In addition to the standard components of a body armor vest, the set includes a special shock-absorbing and climate-regulating insert.
This design feature improves the vest’s fit, reduces pressure on the front, and provides additional ventilation during prolonged use.
The body armor is made of ceramic-composite materials, offers an enhanced level of protection, and features a camouflage pattern.
The Ministry of Defense notes that as the number of women in the Defense Forces increases, so does the need for equipment that takes into account the specific physiological characteristics of women.
The adapted body armor is designed to fit the body better, not restrict the movements of female service members, and reduce the risk of injury during combat operations.
This is currently the first procurement of this type of equipment for the Ukrainian military. Once the vests are in use, the Defense Procurement Agency, in collaboration with the Ministry of Defense and military units, plans to collect feedback from female service members.
The experience gained from using the equipment will help assess its effectiveness, identify potential areas for improvement, and incorporate these findings into future procurements.
This was reported on July 21 by the Ministry of Defense’s press service.
As a reminder, the Ukrainian military unveiled the Pegas all-terrain vehicle for off-road operations.
On July 20, the Cabinet of Ministers appointed Yevhen Khmara as acting Minister of Defense of Ukraine.
The Armed Forces of Ukraine have not yet received the Skyranger 35 anti-aircraft systems that Germany planned to provide to counter drones. Rheinmetall had previously announced its intention to supply these systems to Ukraine for hundreds of millions of euros.
