Ukraine debates women’s military service - but compulsory mobilization is not on the table

Some Ukrainian veterans argue that the country should eventually move toward a model in which military service is a responsibility shared by both men and women.

Oksana Ivanets, a reserve lieutenant colonel and Ukrainian Armed Forces veteran with more than 25 years of service, told hromadske she supports an Israeli-style model of military service.

“On the fifth year of the full-scale invasion, we need to accept the reality that everyone has to serve,” Ivanets said. “Not necessarily fight, but serve. I support mobilizing women - we can replace men in non-combat positions in the rear.”

But Ivanets argues that Ukraine’s military would first need to adapt to accommodate women on a much larger scale, from appropriate equipment and uniforms to tackling discrimination, sexism and sexual harassment.

“For a woman to feel comfortable in the military, our state still has a lot of work to do,” she said.

Lawmaker Inna Sovsun draws a sharper distinction between the women who already choose to serve in Ukraine’s military and the idea of making that service compulsory.

“I don’t think Keith Kellogg should confuse the experience of his daughter, who voluntarily joined the military, with compulsory mobilization,” Sovsun told hromadske.

She also pointed to problems Ukrainian servicewomen continue to face, including sexual harassment, discrimination, barriers to serving in combat roles and a lack of properly sized uniforms, footwear and other equipment.

“Ukraine already has a large number of women serving,” Sovsun said, arguing that these longstanding problems should be addressed before expanding compulsory military service to women.

Women already play a substantial role in Ukraine’s defense. More than 75,000 women currently serve across the country’s Defense Forces, including more than 20,000 in combat roles, according to official figures.

They serve as tank crew members, artillery personnel, reconnaissance troops, drone and weapons operators, among other roles.

Under current Ukrainian law, however, women are not subject to compulsory mobilization and join the military voluntarily. Compulsory mobilization currently applies to eligible men.

Despite the public debate, there is currently no move in parliament to introduce compulsory mobilization for women.

Iryna Friz, a member of parliament’s Committee on National Security, Defense and Intelligence, told hromadske that no initiative to mobilize women is currently under consideration. Fellow committee member Fedir Venislavskyi confirmed that there are no such proposals.

“It is extremely unlikely that any will emerge,” Venislavskyi said. “Moreover, such ideas would have little prospect of passing parliament.”

The parliamentary defense committee has also publicly stated that there are no legislative initiatives, draft laws or even internal discussions on introducing compulsory mobilization for women.

A real debate - and a tool for Russian disinformation

The debate has also provided fertile ground for Russian disinformation. Andriy Kovalenko, head of Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation, said Russian actors have been exploiting the issue to promote claims about the mobilization of Ukrainian women.

Such narratives can be particularly effective because they build on genuine facts. Kellogg did publicly advocate mobilizing women. Reznikov has also spoken in favor of compulsory service. Ukraine does face a manpower challenge, and tens of thousands of Ukrainian women already serve in the military.

But none of that means Ukraine is preparing to introduce compulsory mobilization for women. Under current law, women serve voluntarily, and lawmakers on parliament’s defense committee say there are no bills, legislative initiatives or even internal discussions on changing that.

The debate is real. The policy is not.