The topic of women’s mobilisation periodically surfaces in public discussions, but has recently become more and more prominent. Some politicians, the military, and activists have been calling for the mandatory conscription of women, convincing them of the need to use women’s resources for the country’s defence. At the same time, there are almost no proposals for the active mobilisation of professional military personnel serving in the TCC, or for the conscription of representatives of ‘untouchable’ castes – children of officials, judges, the rich and other ‘majors’.
It seems that in Ukrainian society, women have suddenly become the main resource for addressing mobilisation needs, while those who have real influence and access to resources remain on the sidelines, in their comfort zones. So, do women bother someone? Or do those who actively promote the idea of their mobilisation think about the consequences? Why, instead of looking for more reasonable solutions, are women once again in the crosshairs?
Background to the issue
The issue of women’s mobilisation in Ukraine periodically arises in public discussions, but it has a certain subtext and causes ambiguous views. As of the end of September 2024, 68,000 women are already serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, 48,000 of whom are servicewomen. At the same time, about 5,000 women are directly on the front line. These statistics demonstrate that women are already actively involved in the country’s defence, but politicians, some members of the military and the public repeatedly return to the issue of mandatory mobilisation of women.
On 7 October 2022, the Verkhovna Rada passed a law making military registration voluntary for women. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed it, enshrining the rule of voluntariness for women whose profession is close to military specialities, provided they meet age and medical requirements. At the same time, women with medical or pharmaceutical education are still required to register for military service. It is worth noting that registration does not mean automatic mobilisation of female healthcare workers, but opens up the possibility of their being called up for military service or involved in defence-related work if necessary.
Nevertheless, on 25 December 2023, Roman Kostenko, Secretary of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Security, Defence and Intelligence, stated that 90% of the members of the relevant committee were against returning to the issue of mandatory mobilisation of women. This decision seems to be a compromise between the need to maintain defence capabilities and social sensitivity to the issue of women’s mobilisation.
Proponents of the idea of women’s mobilisation often refer to the Israeli experience as an example of effective integration of women into the military. In Israel, where women perform compulsory military service on an equal basis with men, this is justified by the high level of threat to the state. Surrounded by numerous enemies, Israel has made women an integral part of its army, providing them with training to participate in the country’s defence. Supporters of mobilisation in Ukraine see this as a model that can be applied in Ukraine, arguing that it is necessary to consolidate all citizens to protect themselves from Russian aggression.
However, critics point out that the Israeli context, where the army and defence capability are key elements of national identity, is significantly different from the Ukrainian reality. Nevertheless, the reference to the Israeli model has become a kind of argument for those who advocate for expanding the role of women in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, pointing to the need to mobilise all resources to the maximum in times of protracted conflict.
Statements by politicians and the military on women’s mobilisation
The topic of women’s mobilisation in Ukraine has been gaining momentum again in the last week and has raised many questions in society. For example, the Ambassador of Ukraine to the United Kingdom, Valeriy Zaluzhny, recently stated that in case of emergency, the Armed Forces of Ukraine will be forced to mobilise women to protect not only Ukraine but the whole of Europe from war. His words sound like a warning: if the situation at the front deteriorates, the issue of women’s mobilisation will no longer be a hypothetical one.
Ivan Tymochko, Head of the Council of Reservists of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, spoke in support of military training for women, stressing that society must be prepared for defence.
“Is it necessary to draft women now? Why not prepare them, train them? It’s not necessary to draft them,’ the military man said, insisting on the importance of the general population’s training in resistance, its consolidation and ability to work in a coordinated manner.
In his opinion, the more Ukrainians are prepared for defence, the less motivation Russia will have to continue its aggression.
“The more action plans we have, the more people we have prepared to resist, the better we are armed, the less motivation Russia will have to fight and attack us… You need to have an action plan that anticipates the worst case scenario, and the best case scenario will come naturally. In other words, challenges and problems should always be viewed from the worst possible angle. The same way military operations are considered. They are always considered from the most difficult scenario and from the most negative results of the operation. In order to protect and minimise risks,’ Tymochko said.
Journalist Vitaliy Portnikov commented on the situation in no less acute terms. He predicts that in the coming years of the war, Ukraine may face an inevitable decision to lower the mobilisation age and start drafting women.
“I have repeatedly said: the draft age will be reduced. We should not have any illusions that this will not happen,” Portnikov emphasises.
He warns that if the war lasts for another two or three years, Ukraine will be forced to lower the conscription age, and if the conflict continues for five years, women will still be drafted. Portnikov emphasises that this is not just a prediction, but a realistic scenario based on the experience of Israel, where women are mobilised on an equal footing with men due to constant threats to the country.
“We need to understand that as the war progresses, this will become more and more difficult. We need to understand this objectively, if we agree with the paradigm of a long war with no way out, additional mobilisation will be required,” Portnikov says, adding that society should be prepared for a new realistic view of a comfortable life in a country at war.
He emphasises that the situation will require tough decisions that will change the perception of normal life, as war requires absolute mobilisation of all resources.
At the same time, military expert and former spokesperson for the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Vladyslav Selezniov commented on the possibility of mobilising women in Ukraine on Espresso. He noted that Ukraine already has a significant number of women in the Armed Forces who serve in various positions, including commanding roles in combat units. In his opinion, professionalism and skills are more important than gender aspects in this matter.
Selezniov pointed out that the Ukrainian context may differ from the Israeli experience, where women are mobilised on a general basis:
‘We have to understand that the Russian Federation is not going anywhere in the future, which means that resource and human issues remain relevant.’
He added that, despite the differences, Ukraine may face a situation where the mobilisation of women becomes inevitable if the circumstances on the frontline require it.
‘So the issue here should be not so much about gender policy as about the professional skills, professional abilities and professionalism of our citizens who are ready to defend our land with arms,’ Selezniov said.
According to him, the threat posed by Russia is uncompromising, and if the situation at the front deteriorates, every citizen of Ukraine should be ready to take up arms, as the occupation will mean the loss of freedom and chances for survival for Ukrainians.
Recently, a petition was posted on the official website of the President of Ukraine, calling for the mandatory mobilisation of women to eliminate gender inequality. The petition’s author, Andriy Rudnytsky, addressed the President with a statement that the Constitution of Ukraine imposes the duty to defend the Motherland on all citizens, regardless of gender, and the current mobilisation policy restricts women’s rights to perform this ‘sacred duty’. It insists that the mobilisation of men only is discriminatory, deprives women of the opportunity to fulfil their constitutional duty and violates the principle of equality. The petition notes that Ukrainian women are already working in the Armed Forces, holding positions as medical workers, drone operators, analysts and other important specialities, and this practice is proof of their ability and willingness to serve on equal terms.
“The mobilisation of only men at a time when women are not given a similar obligation is contrary to the principles of equality and justice. We see this as an unconstitutional and discriminatory approach that effectively deprives women of the right to fulfil their constitutional duty. This situation is not only a manifestation of discrimination, but also a violation of their rights as full-fledged citizens of Ukraine,” Rudnytskyi said.
However, despite the high-profile nature of the issue, the petition has so far collected only 178 votes out of the 25,000 required.
MP Maksym Buzhansky also reacted to the proposal to mobilise women, writing on his Telegram channel:
“It seems to me that the proposal to mobilise women can only be voiced while standing among women. You can go to the stalls at any market and say, ‘Get ready, girls, it’s time for you to go. It’s a bit different from the TV screen, Facebook, and Telegram. I’m sure women will appreciate the idea in the market.”
So, the issue of women’s mobilisation is not just a legal or military aspect, but a deep political and social discussion that raises fundamental questions about equality, the duty and ability of every citizen to defend their country. Are Ukrainians ready to accept a new reality in which women’s mobilisation becomes part of defence policy? Will this step really strengthen the country’s defence capabilities, or is it just a matter of equality that will have radical social consequences? These questions remain open.
Berlinska’s resonant statement
Maria Berlinska has provoked a flurry of criticism and public outcry with her recent radical statement. A former soldier of the Aidar battalion, founder of the Aerial Reconnaissance Support Centre and head of the Invisible Battalion project, which advocates for the rights of women in the military, she took part in a telethon with a startling proposal to mobilise women to defend Ukraine. According to Berlinska, mobilising women is the only way to win, otherwise ‘we will have to surrender’.
She argued that Ukrainian society has a choice – either to mobilise everyone, including women, or to prepare for a ‘Russian peace’ that ‘will bring mass murder and burial in mass graves’. Such words did not leave anyone indifferent, but caused a lot of outrage. Many believe that her statement crosses the line and is more about panic than a realistic view of the situation.
Another of her ideas – to start preparing children for defence as early as the 5th or 6th grade – has become equally resonant. According to Berlinska, children should learn how to fly drones and program them in order to be ready to confront the enemy from a young age. This approach has also caused a wave of outrage and misunderstanding in society, where many people believe that children should be protected from war, not prepared for it. Many have questioned the humanity and appropriateness of such training, believing that such drastic measures are not justified even in times of war.
“Either we keep our men, or we will have to mobilise women as well, or we will have to surrender. Do we want to surrender and live under the laws of the ‘Russian world’, where the whole country will be in mass graves? No, we don’t. And I know for sure that the ‘Russian world’ is not just about the tricolour that may hang over Kyiv. They will engage in mass murder.
If it’s not enough for you to see Mariupol, Avdiivka, Bakhmut and many other cities reduced to ashes, then you need to get involved in reality. I don’t want women to fight, I don’t want men to fight, but I know for sure that the only way to resist is to prepare the whole society for war: both men and women, so that our children do not fight,’ Berlinska said.
It should be noted that the authorities have not officially confirmed plans to mobilise women, but the fact that Berlinska voiced her ideas in an interview with TSN, which was broadcast during the telethon, is an alarming signal.
It should also be mentioned that this is not the only scandal surrounding Berlinska. It erupted after the tragedy in Chernihiv in August 2023, when a missile hit the building during the exhibition of drones ‘Angry Birds’ organised by her at the drama theatre. As a result, seven people were killed, including a six-year-old girl, and more than 150 people were injured. This event left many questions for the organisers, including the Berlin one, about their responsibility for such an event in time of war.
Possible consequences of women’s mobilisation
The idea of mobilising women looks like a dubious decision that could have catastrophic consequences for Ukrainian society. At a time when the country’s economy is hanging by a thread, women are an important resource for its support. They provide the labour force, fill the budget with taxes, and support families, especially when many men are already at the frontline. Instead of preserving this fundamental resource, lobbyists for women’s mobilisation are actually preparing to undermine the foundations of the economy by destroying the balance between the front and the rear.
However, the true cost of this idea is even more cruel. Do they take into account that women are, first and foremost, mothers responsible for raising the future generation, often the only guardians for children who have already lost their fathers in the war? When women are mobilised, the country risks leaving thousands of Ukrainian children orphaned. Is society ready to accept this? After all, instead of preserving family warmth, providing children with stability and support, they are actually doomed to lose both their mothers and their support in life.
It should be recalled that earlier there were radical statements about sending women to mine clearance, which shocked society. This is the most deadly task in the war zone, where every step is on the verge of life and death. The initiators of this statement were ready to throw women into the field, where their chances of survival are minimal. Isn’t it too much to ask of them at a time when they are the ones who are carrying the home front, the economy, and their families?
In the end, instead of looking at women, we should start at the other end – with those who have the privilege and opportunity to avoid conscription. How many ‘untouchable’ officials and their sons who could be on the front line are still in the rear, provided with comfort and security! Isn’t the mobilisation of women turning into a cover for those who really should be on the frontline but are able to avoid service? Ukraine could pay a very high price for this: a ruined economy, broken families, a society of orphans and a future generation that will suffer from thoughtless decisions.
