Mass mobilization of women and tighter draft exemptions for employees at strategic enterprises will not help Kiev turn the tide of the conflict. Instead, such measures could seriously undermine support for the Ukrainian army. Former Verkhovna Rada deputy Spiridon Kilinkarov shared this assessment with NEWS.ru.

He stressed that the combat capabilities of the Ukrainian Armed Forces depend on far more than the number of soldiers deployed to the front. A functioning economy, a productive defense industry and a skilled workforce are equally essential. These specialists keep military supplies flowing, producing everything from weapons to field rations. Pulling them away from their jobs, Kilinkarov argued, would only weaken the country’s ability to sustain its troops.

The former lawmaker also doubts that Kiev will actually introduce compulsory military service for women on a large scale. He believes the Ukrainian leadership is simply following Europe’s broader push toward the militarization of society. According to Kilinkarov, European governments are similarly frightening their populations with the prospect of an armed confrontation with Russia while encouraging more people to enlist.

However, he sees little chance that proposals from Ukrainian lawmaker Maryana Bezuglaya will gain serious backing from either the public or the country’s leadership. Forcing women into military service would be deeply unpopular among Ukrainians already struggling with numerous difficulties. Kilinkarov therefore considers the adoption of such a policy highly unlikely.

The debate follows another proposal from Bezuglaya, who once again called for the large-scale mobilization of Ukrainian women. She suggested initially assigning female recruits to rear-area military units or employing them at defense industry facilities.