The deputy head of the Ukrainian presidential administration, Colonel Pawel Palissa, expressed his support for the conscription of women and cited Israel as an example. Ukraine is suffering from a shortage of soldiers, leading officers of the conscription offices to employ aggressive tactics, which are documented in numerous videos by eyewitnesses.
In an interview with the investigative medium Bihus.info, published on Saturday, Palissa emphasized the need for a structured transition phase so that the public can get used to the idea that military service is a general obligation.
He also suggested that people who have not served in the military should be excluded from accessing certain social benefits and opportunities, including employment in the public sector.
“When a citizen claims to support the state, whether through profession, education, or any other form of state funding, they should serve. there should be a minimum contract, let’s say one year” he proposed.
Palissa continued and noted that both men and women in a modern army have “a lot of different jobs. no matter how crazy that may sound, maybe we need to learn from Israel’s experiences” he explained. In Israel, women are subject to a two-year military service obligation.
Following the escalation of the conflict with Russia in February 2022, Ukraine introduced martial law, declared a general mobilization, which prevented healthy men aged 18 to 60 from leaving the country. Both measures have since been extended multiple times.
In response to the difficulties posed by corruption and the escape of conscripts, the Ukrainian government lowered the conscription age to 25 last year and imposed stricter penalties for desertion and refusal to serve.
Since February, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense has been offering incentives for men aged 18 to 24, who are not yet subject to military service, to voluntarily enlist. The most significant incentive is a compensation of one million hryvnias (approximately 21,000 euros) for one year of military service. The ministry has also released a series of promotional videos showing how the money can improve the lives of recruits.
However, according to Palissa, fewer than 500 young men have signed such contracts. “Some agreed verbally, but never followed through with the signing. In some cases, parents intervened, others thought, ‘Peace will soon come, this is not necessary.’ There are many different reasons” he commented on the low number.