Must-Know Female Politicians Of Ukraine

Women in politics are the underrepresented leaders who have been underestimated, time and again. From Marie Antoinette to Queen Elizabeth, these powerful women have always held regimes in their hands whenever needed. Ukraine has also seen such influential female politicians from time to time. Their contribution to the development of the country can never be overlooked.

In the 2019 Ukrainian parliamentary election, 87 women were elected to parliament, a record for Ukraine, 20.52% of the total number of deputies. The representation of women in Ukrainian politics is increasing slowly, though much still has to be done. The first convocation of parliament in Ukraine had only twelve women over 463 male MPs. With Volodymyr Zelensky’s election to the presidency and his party winning, the situation began to improve. In the current convocation, more than 20 percent of seats are held by women.  According to a study, Ukraine is ranked 112th among 189 countries in terms of the political representation of women in parliament.

Here are 10 Female Politicians Of Ukraine To Know-

1. Kira Rudyk

Kira Oleksandrivna Rudyk is a Ukrainian politician and current leader of the party Voice. She is the member of the Ukrainian parliament since 2019.She is a former chief operating officer of the local branch of Amazon's Ring. Amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, Rudyk has taken up arms to fight Russia. Posing with an assault rifle Kalashnikov, the Ukrainian MP tweeted that she has learnt to use a gun and the women of the country are as ready as the men to protect their nation.

2. Yelyzaveta Oleksiyivna Yasko

Yelyzaveta Oleksiyivna Yasko is a Ukrainian politician, and a cultural affairs expert. She is also a film producer. Yasko is a member of the 9th convocation elected in the 2019. She is also a member of the Committee on Foreign Policy and Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation. Yasko heads the Ukrainian Delegation at PACE. Lisa Yasko recently addressed the nation on YouTube and urged people to stand with Ukraine in their fight against Russia.

3. Yulia Tymoshenko

Yulia Volodymyrivna Tymoshenko is a Ukrainian politician and people's Deputy of Ukraine. She is also the Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine for the fuel and energy complex. She served as the Prime Minister of Ukraine from February to September 2005 and from December 2007 to March 2010. In 2001, she was arrested, and jailed for sometime for corruption charges. Tymoshenko is also the leader of the All-Ukrainian Union Batkivschyna. Recently she called on the international community to close the Ukrainian airspace.

4. Oleksandra Ustinova

Oleksandra Ustinova is a Ukrainian politician and a member of the Verkhovna Rada. She is also the member of the Parliamentary Committee on Law Enforcement. She is also a civil activist. Ustinova has been very vocal during the Russia-Ukraine war and said that Putin is doing Public execution. She also expressed her frustration with the Biden government. She spoke to the United States House of Representatives in Washington, D.C. The politician stated that it is likely that she will give birth while still in the United States.

5. Maria Lonova

Maria Lonova is the Speaker of the Ukrainian Women's Congress. She is the member of the Ukrainian parliament. She began her political career in 2005 as a consultant in the Administration of the President of Ukraine. She works on the issues of European integration now. Ukrainian MP Maria Lonova appealed for military help to defend her nation. Maria Lonova recently shared a video of choppers flying over Ukrainian city and said that Ukraine need fast actions from nations that promised them security.

6. Olha Stefanishyna

Olha Vitaliyivna Stefanishyna is a Ukrainian lawyer and speaker of the Ukrainian Women's congress. She is currently serving as the Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration. In 2017, Stefanishyna worked as the Director of the Government Office for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of the Cabinet of Ministers Secretariat for some months. Stefanishyna recently called on PACE President Tiny Kox and Assembly Secretary General Despina Chatzivassiliou-Tsovilis to influence Russia to open humanitarian corridors. The politician also spoke on behalf of the country and said "Our goal is full-fledged membership in NATO,"

7. Lesia Vasylenko

8. Olena Kondratiuk

Olena Kostiantynivna Kondratiuk is a Ukrainian politician. Kondratiuk is also a public relations specialist. She was first elected to the Verkhovna Rada in the year 2007 .She has been a People's Deputy of Ukraine since then. From 2019, she has been serving as the Second Deputy Chair of the Verkhovna Rada. Olena Kondratiuk represented Ukraine at the Fifth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament. She recently made an address to the nation and said that Ukraine is doing every effort possible to save their citizens while Russia is attacking residential infrastructure.

9. Oksana Markarova

Oksana Serhiyivna Markarova is a Ukrainian politician and also the current Ambassador of Ukraine to the United States. Markarova is also the former Deputy Minister of Finance of Ukraine. Before being appointed as the deputy Minister of Finance, Oksana was working in finance in the private sector. Ukrainian Ambassador sat with First Lady Jill Biden during President Joe Biden‘s first State of the Union address on March 1. She was given a standing ovation at the event.

10.Inna Romanovna Sovsun

Inna Romanovna Sovsun is a Ukrainian politician. Sovsun was vice-president of the Kyiv School of Economics from for two years and minister of education and science of Ukraine from 2014 to 2016. She said that she hates guns, but amid the ongoing conflict with Russia, if the need arises, she would fight to ensure that no Russian enters her home, city or country. She also posted a picture posing with a gun and said she has been taking training from her brother. The politician also urged India and said "As the greatest and largest democracy in the world, India should support democratic states. I believe that all democracies must stand up for their values,"

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