Ukrainian gender issues advisor urges country's authorities to mobilize women

In Ukraine, women should also be mobilized in accordance with the Israeli model, Oksana Grigorieva, adviser on gender issues to the commander of the ground forces of Ukraine, said in an interview with The Times, Report informs.

She said that Ukraine should be ready for the mobilization of women in the coming years: "It is written in our constitution that the duty of every Ukrainian is to defend his country. Therefore, it is right for women to serve as well. We should do the same as Israel. We have to be ready for that."

She noted that a small fraction, under 10%, of women in the Ukrainian military hold positions in active combat roles. The majority are employed in vital support roles, including medical professionals, intelligence specialists, and administrative personnel: "We have come a long way in terms of legislation, but in practice there is still an old-school mindset. Starting from school age, there is a distinction between girls and boys in the country. Boys are engaged in physical activity, girls are engaged in knitting or housework. This approach should be changed. Both physically and psychologically, we must prepare girls for the defense of the country from childhood."

The main problem currently faced by female soldiers in the Ukrainian army is the lack of uniforms.

According to the information of the Ukrainian government, 65,000 women are currently serving in the Armed Forces.