Ukraine is preparing to stage a military parade next month to mark 30 years of independence following the Soviet Union's breakup, and therefore the defence ministry released photographs of fatigue-clad women soldiers marching in mid-heel black pumps.
"Today, for the primary 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 try ," Medvid added in comments released on Thursday.
The choice of footwear sparked a torrent of criticism on social media and in parliament, and led to accusations that ladies soldiers had been sexualised.
"The story of a parade in heels may be a real disgrace," commentator Vitaly Portnikov said on Facebook, arguing that some Ukrainian officials had a "medieval" mindset.
Another commentator, Maria Shapranova, accused the defence ministry of "sexism and misogyny."
"High heels may be a mockery of girls imposed by the sweetness industry," she fumed.
Several Ukrainian lawmakers on the brink of Ukraine's former president Petro Poroshenko showed up in parliament with pairs of shoes and encouraged the defence minister to wear high heels to the parade.
"It is tough to imagine a more idiotic, harmful idea," said Inna Sovsun, a member of the Golos party, pointing to health risks.
She also said that Ukraine's women soldiers -- like men -- were risking their lives and "do not need to be mocked".
Ukraine has been battling Russian-backed separatists within the country's industrial east, during a conflict that has killed quite 13,000 people since 2014.
Olena Kondratyuk, deputy speaker of the legislature said authorities should publicly apologise for "humiliating" women and conduct a search .
Kondratyuk said that quite 13,500 women had fought within the current conflict.
More than 31,000 women now serve within the Ukrainian soldiers , including quite 4,000 of whom are officers.
