Ukrainian authorities have faced a wave of criticism over the idea of marching women soldiers wearing high-heeled shoes instead of army boots at a military parade in August.
The scandal erupted after the Ministry of Defense published photos of the rehearsal for the military parade, which will be held on August 24 on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence.
Photos posted on his official Facebook page show young women, military college students, marching in camouflage uniforms and black mid-heeled shoes, which the ministry says are part of women’s uniforms for military parades.
“Today we train in high-heeled shoes for the first time. It is a little more difficult than in army boots, but we are trying, ”said one of the participants, Ivanna Medvid, quoted by the official agency“ ArmiaInform ”. Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.
violent reactions
The photos sparked a violent reaction on social media and sparked protests in parliament.
“Heels are an insult to women imposed by the beauty industry,” commented netizen Maria Chapranova, denouncing “sexism and misogyny.”
“What for? Swimwear and fins? ” – Katerina Romanenko joked.
Several Ukrainian deputies close to former President Petro Poroshenko displayed high-heeled shoes in front of the Minister of Defense present in the hall, inviting him to put them on “to the parade.”
Inna Suvsun, a deputy from the Golos party, condemned the “stupid idea” on Facebook, which stems from “stereotypes about the role of a woman as a beautiful doll”.
Deputy Speaker of the Parliament Olena Kondratyuk called on the authorities to “publicly apologize for this humiliation” to women who “defend the independence of Ukraine with arms in their hands.”
There are more than 31 thousand women in the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, 4 100 of them are officers.
More than 13,500 Ukrainians have fought against pro-Russian separatists in the east of the country since the beginning of the bloody armed conflict seven years ago, Kondratyuk said.
