Verkhovna Rada Confirms Ukraine Is Not Considering Women’s Mobilization

Ukraine's parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, has reaffirmed that it is not contemplating a women's mobilization. This was confirmed in an official statement released by the national security committee on Tuesday, Aug. 25, following former U.S. presidential envoy Keith Kellogg's remarks on Aug. 24. Kellogg had suggested that women should be mobilized, emphasizing their contribution to the war effort.

The Verkhovna Rada's statement clarified that individual statements on the subject do not represent the committee's stance or legislative actions. It emphasized that women can voluntarily join the Defense Forces, although certain categories, like those with medical or pharmaceutical skills, are required to register for military service.

Registration does not entail automatic conscription or assignment to combat roles. In recent times, women have been actively engaging in hazardous humanitarian roles such as delivering aid in combat zones and serving as evacuation medics. During an interview with Naspravdi MAX on Monday, Kellogg stated that there were no significant barriers to women serving in the military, both personally and professionally.

He referenced his family's military background, highlighting his wife's service as a paratrooper during the Grenada operation and his daughter's military service in Afghanistan. Kellogg expressed his belief that women should be mobilized into the army, citing their equal combat capabilities.