The plans of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine to oblige women-soldiers to march in heels instead of boots at the upcoming parade in August elicited a negative reaction from the Members of Parliament and citizens. On August 24, a parade is to be held to mark the 30th anniversary of the proclamation of Ukraine’s independence.
The defence ministry’s Facebook page shows the female students of a military college, marching in uniform and black medium-heeled pumps.
“Today, for the first time, training takes place in heeled shoes,” cadet Ivanna Medvid was quoted as saying by the defense ministry’s information site ArmiaInform.
“It is slightly harder than in army boots, but we are trying,” Medvid added.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense said that heeled shoes are part of the uniform.
About 31 thousand women serve in the armed forces of Ukraine, 4 thousand of whom are officers.
Deputy parliamentary speaker Olena Kondratyuk said over 13,500 women had fought in the Ukraine-Russia conflict where Russian separatists and Ukraine government troops are fighting in the eastern Donbas region.