PORTRAIT OF NATALIYA VASYUKOVA
At the National Defence University of Ukraine, Colonel Nataliya Vasyukova leads the Foreign Languages Education and Research Centre in an environment where language training has taken on new importance since the start of the full-scale invasion. With the expansion of cooperation with international partners to train Ukrainian servicemen and women and the need to acquire Western weapons and equipment, overcoming the language barrier has become a necessary requirement. The National Defence University of Ukraine steadfastly maintains its leadership position in the military education system in general and in the system of language training and language testing in particular.
Nataliya Vasyukova, PhD in Philology, provided pre-deployment training for the military personnel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to participate in international peacekeeping operations, which allows her to continue to disseminate international best practices and apply international standards in training. And this is the second time she has held the position of gender adviser to the Commandant of the University on a voluntary basis, making efforts to raise awareness of gender issues in the military education system and promote gender equality.
Aware of the importance of institutional change, Nataliya worked with the PROTECT2 project to develop a Strategy for Ensuring Equal Rights and Opportunities for Women and Men in the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine and the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as well as to develop an online course on gender equality in the defence sector. The comprehensive 10-module course ‘Gender Equality in the Armed Forces of Ukraine: Policy and Practice’ will be launched soon, available not only for university student officers but also for a wider audience, raising awareness of gender integration in the military. By providing future and current defence professionals with key knowledge, the course will contribute to sustainable change and strengthen gender equality in the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Despite her many achievements, Nataliya Vasyukova rarely talks about them. However, for those women who have studied or are studying at the university, she is a true inspiration and role model. Her influence extends far beyond the classroom – with her dedication, leadership, and quiet determination, she shows by example what it means to lead with purpose and confidence.