Reznikov called for extending military service in Ukraine to include women
On August 20, former Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov stated that military service should apply to all citizens of Ukraine, including women. In his view, this approach would make it possible to double the mobilization pool, and legislative changes are needed to implement it.
According to Reznikov, Ukraine should draw on the experience of countries facing similar security challenges—in particular Israel, where women serve in the military on an equal footing with men. In his view, such an approach would immediately double the mobilization pool: women could fill some military positions and specialties that do not involve combat, and men released from rear-area duties could be redeployed closer to the front lines. To achieve this, the former minister believes, the Verkhovna Rada will have to amend the law and establish the duty to defend the state as an obligation for all citizens, regardless of gender.
Reznikov emphasized that the changes should not begin with coercion, but rather with an information campaign and fostering public understanding of the need to defend the country together.
“If such a sentiment begins to prevail in society, the Verkhovna Rada will easily enter the session hall, press the buttons, and the bill will be approved,” the former minister concluded.
He also recalled in an interview with Radio Liberty that it was during his tenure as defense minister that standards for women’s military uniforms and body armor were approved.
As a reminder, the father of two children was mobilized by the Territorial Defense Command following the death of his wife.
Earlier, a female General Staff officer was detained for accepting a bribe of 14,000 dollars.
In the Chernihiv region, a detained deserter attempted to offer a bribe of 40,000 hryvnias.
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the National Police uncovered 12 schemes to evade mobilization in eight regions.
