Kellogg backs mobilizing Ukrainian women, parliament says it is not under consideration

Former U.S. Special Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg said he supports mobilizing Ukrainian women into the military, while Parliament’s National Security Committee stressed on Aug. 25 that no such measure is being prepared or considered.

"So do I believe women should be mobilized into the army? My answer is yes, because they fight no worse than men," Kellogg said in an interview with the Naspravdi MAX YouTube channel published on Aug. 24.

Kellogg added that it is "very important for women, as part of society, to serve," saying he saw no problem with the idea "personally or professionally."

Hours after Kellogg's remarks drew attention in Ukraine, the committee issued an official statement saying that the mobilization of women "is not being carried out, prepared, or considered."

The committee said there were no legislative initiatives, draft laws, or internal discussions on mobilizing women and stressed that women currently join Ukraine's Defense Forces exclusively on a voluntary basis.

"Statements by individual speakers who publicly speculate on this topic do not reflect actual legislative work or the position of the committee," the statement read.

The committee urged Ukrainians not to fall for speculation and to rely on official sources of information.

When making his case, Kellogg pointed to the military service of women in his own family. His daughter graduated from the U.S. Military Academy and served in Afghanistan, while his wife served as a paratrooper in Grenada.

Kellogg's comments come amid a broader public discussion over how Ukraine can address manpower shortages after more than four years of full-scale war.

Former Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov recently said Ukraine should consider making military service mandatory for all citizens, regardless of gender.

"If we really want to solve this problem, we need to look at the successful experience of countries that have it. The country closest to us today in terms of the level of threat is Israel, where women serve in the military just like men," Reznikov told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty on Aug. 21.

Reznikov said mobilizing women could significantly expand the pool of people available for military service. He suggested women could serve in roles away from the front, freeing more men for combat positions.

Reznikov acknowledged that such a change would require parliament to amend Ukrainian law.

The parliamentary committee's Aug. 25 statement makes clear, however, that proposals voiced by Kellogg, Reznikov, or other public figures have not translated into legislative work and that mandatory mobilization of women is currently not under consideration.