Military expert Yan Gagin said Kiev is recruiting young women for drone units because, in his view, they tend to be more attentive, patient and quick to react.

He argued that women process images on a screen faster and respond more promptly to changing situations. According to Gagin, younger UAV operators are especially sought after because they are more accustomed to working with digital devices.

Gagin also said female members of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, like male personnel, can be taken prisoner by Russian troops. He noted that international humanitarian law gives all prisoners of war the same status regardless of gender, although detention conditions for women may take physiological differences into account.

Cited by aif.ru, the expert said female prisoners are provided with food and basic facilities and are held separately from men. At the same time, he stressed that they do not receive special privileges and are kept under conditions broadly similar to those applied to male prisoners.

Gagin added that any Ukrainian servicemember who signs a contract and enters a combat zone should understand the risk of capture in advance.