Vladimir Konstantinov, speaker of Crimea’s parliament, criticized on August 23 remarks by former Ukrainian Defense Minister Aleksey Reznikov that were described as calling for the compulsory mobilization of women in Ukraine.
Using strong language about Reznikov, Konstantinov argued that the remarks served the Ukrainian leadership’s policy of continuing the war with Russia.
According to Konstantinov, Reznikov did not go to the front after leaving office; nevertheless, he showed that he was ready to send women to the front.

The background to Ukraine’s mobilization debate
Debate over Ukraine’s need for soldiers also came to the fore in October 2023. News reports published at the time said that, because the number of personnel in Ukrainian units had declined, military recruitment offices had been forced to call up people with an average age of 43.
Other reports from the same period claimed that Ukraine was trying to bring more women into the army. Those reports also alleged that the effort was linked to heavy losses in the Ukrainian Armed Forces.