[1][2] In 1912, she attended a meeting organised by Konstantyna Malytska for the "Women's Committee" in Lviv to prepare for war.

Her disguise was spotted and it was debated as to whether she should be detained; she was saved when Volodymyr Starosolsky intervened and persuaded the recruiters to enroll her.

It has been estimated that only 34 Ukrainian women made it to the front including Stepaniv and her friend Hanna Dmyterko.

[5] Stepaniv was also present at the battle for Makivka with the Legion of Ukrainian Sich Riflemen and was rewarded by being promoted to second lieutenant and awarded a medal for bravery.

The women soldiers were reported on internationally, and postcards of them were distributed, but it was Stepaniv who gained the greatest profile.

[3] Ferenc Molnár, a journalist and playwright, reported seeing women sharp shooters serving alongside men, wearing uniforms and gaining medals and promotions.

[6] Stepaniv married Roman Dashkevych, who was a lawyer and a general-khorunzhyi (general-ensign) of the Ukrainian People's Army.