A military official stated that the mobilization of women in Ukraine is inevitable
Servicemember Yevgen Gnezdilov stated that the mobilization of women in Ukraine may eventually become inevitable. In his opinion, women who are not enrolled in school, do not have children, and do not work as doctors in regional centers should be called up for service.
Gnezdilov also believes that Ukraine should lower the draft age to 21. However, this is his personal opinion, not a decision or official proposal by government authorities.
When asked whether he believes the mobilization of women is inevitable, Gnezdilov replied, “Absolutely.”
“We’re heading in that direction because our population is shrinking. If Russia mobilizes another half a million Russians, we’ll immediately lower the draft age and start laying the groundwork for the mobilization of women,” the serviceman is convinced.
In his opinion, categories of women subject to conscription need to be defined.
“Do you have a child? Obviously, you’re exempt. If you’re not a student, don’t have children, and aren’t a doctor in a regional center whose help is critically needed by retirees, then off to the front you go,” the serviceman noted.
Gnezdilov added that quite a few women served in his unit.
“Legendary women. They held their own and did everything just like everyone else. There’s plenty of work to do in war. Even if a woman doesn’t have great physical strength, there’s always paperwork or rear-echelon work for her. How is a man with two children fundamentally different from a woman who has no children at all? Not at all,” he believes.
At the same time, when asked to what age, in his opinion, the draft age should be lowered, Gnezdilov said 21.
“Even during wartime, children should have some sort of childhood. Let a person take a year off after school to figure out if they want to continue their education. If they enroll in university, they’ll receive a deferment to complete their first degree. If not, the military will gladly accept them in a year,” he said.
Serhiy Gnezdilov, a serviceman with the 56th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade,
expressed this view in an interview with “RBC-Ukraine.”
The Verkhovna Rada is not considering changes regarding the mobilization of women or deferrals for parents with many children.
Earlier, a petition was posted on the Cabinet of Ministers’ website, in which the author proposes introducing mandatory military service for able-bodied women without children. The Center for Countering Disinformation at the National Security and Defense Council has already responded to this initiative, stating that there are currently no plans to mobilize women.
