All civilian population of Ukraine will be "prepared to resist the enemy." In May 2025, relevant bills will be registered in the Verkhovna Rada, stated Deputy Head of the Office of the President Iryna Vereshchuk. Changes to the current legislation, according to public concerns, may include the mobilization of the entire civilian population, including women.
Is the mobilization of women in Ukraine possible, who can be conscripted voluntarily and who forcibly, and what does the law say about this, explained lawyer Maryna Bekalo in a comment to the TSN.ua website.
Mobilization of Women in Ukraine: What the Law Says
Yes, under current legislation, women’s participation in both basic general military training, which will begin in August 2025, and military service is voluntary.
If a woman voluntarily decides to join the military service, she must register for military accounting at the TRC and SS, undergo a military medical commission (MMC to determine the suitability for military service), and obtain a military accounting specialty in accordance with her civilian profession, sign a contract for military service.
In such cases, women perform military duties on equal terms with men, complying with the legislation on the protection of motherhood and childhood, as well as the prohibition of discrimination based on gender.
"So, as of today, we are only talking about women’s free choice in matters of military service," says Maryna Bekalo.
Mobilization of Women: Can It Be Announced in Ukraine
According to Vereshchuk, the authorities are preparing amendments to the current legislation, which, according to public concerns, may include changes regarding the mobilization of the entire civilian population.
However, we currently do not see any projects, so it is too early to draw conclusions, says the lawyer.
"It is possible that the changes will concern the forcible mobilization of women in certain specialties, perhaps the programs will include only mandatory courses on providing medical assistance, civil defence, conducting informational activities in educational institutions, etc. For now, there is no information on what specific changes we should expect," says Maryna Bekalo.
Is Forced Mobilization of Women in Ukraine Possible
The lawyer noted that mobilization is not only about conscription into the army to perform duties in combat units, but also involves performing tasks to ensure state defence — working at defence enterprises, strategic facilities, etc.
"If we talk about the forced mobilization of women to fulfill military duty, then legally it is also possible, and for this, only some amendments to the relevant legislation are needed for it to take effect. Considering that according to the Constitution, the defence of the independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine is the duty of all citizens of Ukraine without exception, such measures will not contradict the norms of the Constitution. This is from a purely legal standpoint," explains Maryna Bekalo.