A seemingly tone-deaf move by the Ukrainian defence ministry has attracted ire, after it released official photographs of female troops training in high heels for next month’s military parade marking 30 years of independence from the Soviet Union.
“Today, for the first time, training takes place in heeled shoes,” cadet Ivanna Medvid was quoted as saying by the defence ministry’s information site ArmiaInform.
“It is slightly harder than in army boots but we are trying,” Medvid added in comments released on Thursday.
Over 30,000 women serve in Ukraine's armed forces.
The heels, which add no tactical benefit for soldiers and make it harder to walk in, were criticised by Ukrainian lawmakers, who called on Defence Minister Andriy Taran to wear them to the parade. Images of the soldiers marching with heels sparked criticism of the Defence Ministry for forcing them to do so.
Deputies of the European Solidarity party presented 👠heels to defense Minister Andrii Taran.
— Promote Ukraine (@PromoteUkraine) July 2, 2021
Thus, they expressed their indignation that for this year's parade before the 🇺🇦 Independence Day, cadet girls are trained to military walk in heels.@IKlympush #Ukraine pic.twitter.com/fHQw6LLP5b
In an act of protest against the move, members of Ukraine’s European Solidarity party presented red heels to the Defence Ministry in the country’s parliament.
However, Ukraine's defence ministry shared a post noting how militaries of other countries had also made their female soldiers march in heels.
Patriotism surrounding Ukraine’s armed forces is at a high, as the country grapples with a growing prospect of an escalation of its conflict war with Russia in the Donbass region.
In 2021, Russia began a massive military build-up along Ukraine's borders, following a large NATO-led military exercise across central and eastern Europe.
