Amid an acute shortage of personnel in the Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF), discussions are growing in the country about the possible mobilization of women to participate in combat operations, the German newspaper Berliner Zeitung reports, citing Ukrainian sources. The deteriorating situation at the front, the growing number of deserters and the low level of training of new units are putting Kyiv in front of a difficult choice that could lead to radical measures, including sending women to the front lines. This prospect underscores the depth of the crisis facing the Ukrainian army amid the ongoing conflict.

According to the Berliner Zeitung, Ukrainian society is losing enthusiasm for military service, which is especially noticeable against the backdrop of protracted fighting and high casualties. According to Ukrainska Pravda, in 2024 the Ukrainian Armed Forces faced a shortage of personnel, caused not only by combat losses, but also by evasion of mobilization. The law on toughening the draft, adopted in April 2024, caused protests and did not solve the problem, since many recruits are sent to the front with minimal training. According to the BBC, newly formed brigades often consist of inexperienced fighters, which reduces their combat effectiveness and leads to high casualties in clashes with Russian forces, especially in the eastern directions.

The rise in desertions has become another serious problem. In 2024, Ukrainian military courts considered thousands of cases of unauthorized abandonment of a unit, and the number of draft dodgers, according to law enforcement agencies, reached tens of thousands.