Are women being prepared for mobilization? Ukraine is moving closer to adopting decisive measures
Discussions on introducing compulsory military service for women are underway in the Office of the President. This initiative is being compared to the Israeli model, and possible conditions are also being voiced. But are women, the army, and society ready for such changes? And what attitude the military has towards this, Focus examines.
The proposal of the Office of the President: annual service for all
Deputy Head of the Office of the President Pavlo Palisa discussed the introduction of annual compulsory military service for all Ukrainian citizens—men and women. He noted that those who use state benefits must be ready to defend their country.
“If a person plans to work for the state and receive education with budget funds or benefits, then he should serve. Both men and women. The minimum is a year of contract service,” Palisa emphasized.
In his opinion, this model will allow citizens to receive basic military training and form a reserve for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
An example from Israel
In Israel, women are required to serve in the army for two years. During this time, they can hold both administrative and combat positions. The country also offers grants and training benefits to demobilized soldiers, which makes service profitable even from an economic point of view.
Readiness of Ukrainian women
Surveys show that most women in Ukraine are ready to defend their country. For example:
59% of women in 2022 expressed readiness for armed resistance;
27% were ready to participate in hostilities;
69% want to help the defense forces in non-military ways, such as by delivering food, information, and medicine.
However, the question of the readiness of the state system remains open.
Infrastructure and training
Lawyer Kateryna Anishchenko notes that currently, no conditions have been created in Ukraine for the mass training of women.
What is needed:
Joint training centers for men and women;
Adapted programs for beginners;
Proper living conditions, equipment, and medical support.
Without these elements, the effective implementation of the reform is not worth discussing.
The attitude of the military
Military serviceman of the 93rd brigade “Kholodny Yar” Mykhailo supports the idea of basic training for women:
“Women can be excellent snipers, analysts, medics. There are many specialties in which they can prove themselves even better than men,” he noted.
He adds that not all women are the same, and for some, the service can be a serious challenge. But basic skills can save lives in critical situations—both their own and others.
So far, this initiative is at the discussion stage. But it is actively compared with the experience of Israel, Kurdistan, and the United States. The war has changed the role of women in the army, and this issue can no longer be ignored.
