European Commissioner for Defence Andrius Kubilius and the Centre for Countering Disinformation have refuted claims by the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service that the European Union is allegedly putting pressure on Ukraine to mobilise women. The Centre stated that there is no compulsory conscription of women, nor are there any plans for it, and that no such demands have been made by either the EU or Ukraine.
Briefly about the main points
- Kubilius is unaware of any attempts by the EU to secure the conscription of Ukrainian women.
- The European Commissioner described the possibility of a European diktat on mobilisation as strange.
- The CPD has dismissed the Russian intelligence report as fake news.
- There is no compulsory conscription of women in Ukraine, nor are preparations being made for it.
- There is no record of any legislative or internal discussions regarding such a move in the Rada.
Which statement by the Russian intelligence services was Kubilius commenting on?
On 10 September, the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service circulated a claim via Russian state media that the European Commission welcomed the intensification of the debate on the mobilisation of women in Ukraine. The Russian side also claimed that European countries are allegedly insisting on the involvement of Ukrainian women in military service due to a shortage of staff.
Commenting on this statement to «Radio Liberty», Kubilius said that he had no information whatsoever about such actions European Union. He described as strange the very idea that Europe might seek to tell Ukrainians exactly how to carry out mobilisation, particularly with regard to women.
The European Commissioner also remarked that he was not surprised that such information had come from the Kremlin.
The Centre for Countering Disinformation’s position on the conscription of women
The Ukrainian Centre for Countering Disinformation specifically refuted the claim made by the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service and labelled it a hoax. The Centre stated that there is no forced mobilisation of women in Ukraine, nor are there any plans to carry one out.
According to the Centre, no EU or Ukrainian official has made any demands regarding the conscription of women into military service, nor has anyone put forward any such initiatives. The Centre urged people not to trust Russian reports which give the impression that Western partners are interfering in Ukraine’s mobilisation policy.
As previously stated by the relevant committee of the Verkhovna Rada
The Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Security, Defence and Intelligence had previously stated that there were no plans to introduce conscription for women in Ukraine. There are no relevant legislative initiatives or draft laws.
The committee also reported that there had been no internal discussions regarding such a decision. The committee’s position supplements the CPD’s statement by clarifying that no legislative preparations are being made for the mobilisation of women.
