Solutions to win: EVA and Arm Women Now over €97,000 for winter uniforms for women in the military

04.06.2026, 14:49 rubryka.com

More than 75,000 women currently serve in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. They work across various units, have different specialties, and perform a wide range of tasks, from medical and logistics roles to combat roles. More than 20,000 hold combat positions.

Women in the military have long been a visible part of the country's defense, and their contribution is clear and undeniable. At the same time, some practical needs of women defenders, including uniforms adapted to female anatomy, still do not receive proper attention and support. This is where the project name "neVYDYMA" [inVISIBLE in English – ed.] comes from.

"I received my first women's anatomical uniform only later, after I had already started serving, and I honestly breathed a sigh of relief." These are the words of one servicewoman in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Behind them lies the experience of many women in the military, for whom uniforms designed without taking female anatomy into account can become an additional challenge: they can press, chafe, restrict movement, distract from the task, and create unnecessary physical strain.

From May 28 to August 19, 2026, the EVA chain, together with the Arm Women Now initiative, is running the "neVYDIMA" fundraiser. Its goal is to raise 5,000,000 hryvnias for more than 300 sets of winter uniforms for servicewomen, designed with female anatomy in mind. The estimated cost of one set is 15,000 hryvnias.

The set includes:

People can support the project in EVA stores. To do so, they simply need to tell the cashier they want to donate and name any amount, starting from 1 hryvnia, which will be added to the receipt. People can also join online by making a direct transfer on the project website.

For the servicewomen themselves, adapted uniforms have a very practical meaning.

EVA emphasizes that businesses can not only implement specific charitable projects but also consistently draw attention to issues that need public support.

Both projects highlighted an important issue: women in the military perform critically important work and strengthen the Defense Forces. Still, their practical needs are not always visible enough. 'neVYDIMA' continues this approach through the topic of uniforms — a basic element of service that must meet the real needs of servicewomen.

For us, this is a way not only to raise funds for more than 300 sets of winter gear but also to make this need more visible to society," says Oleksandra Hnatyk, deputy director for reputation management.

Adapting uniforms to female anatomy does not simply mean changing the size. It involves separate patterns, a different fit, an appropriate size chart, selection of materials, and testing in real service conditions. That is why the participation of the specialized initiative Arm Women Now, which works not only to produce uniforms but also to advance a broader mission, is an important part of the project, ensuring that the needs of women in the military are systematically taken into account.

"Women's military uniforms are one of the practical markers of how well the military takes women's needs into account. If a woman serves, performs combat or non-combat tasks, grows within her unit, and builds a military career, her equipment must fit her body and the real conditions of service. We are working systematically to make women's military uniforms the norm, not the exception. After all, a 'universal' solution does not always mean equal conditions for everyone. Each project like this helps not only to meet a specific need here and now but also to take a step toward fully recognizing women in the Defense Forces of Ukraine," says Iryna Nykorak, founder of the Arm Women Now social initiative.

The "neVYDYMA" project calls on people to see, support, and protect. Its organizers urge everyone to recognize the need, support the fundraiser, and help protect those who protect Ukraine.

Background

It should be noted that in the summer of 2023, representatives of the Arm Women Now volunteer project showed journalists samples of women's military uniforms that the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine was testing.