Retired US General Claims Ukrainian Army Has ‘Enough Work for Women’
Ben Hodges has proposed that Kiev enlist 18-year-olds, women, and refugees into the military to combat Russia. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
Ben Hodges, a former commander of the US Army in Europe, has suggested that Ukraine should contemplate drafting women into its forces and lowering the mobilization age to 18 to improve its prospects in the ongoing conflict with Russia. Earlier this year, Kiev had already reduced the conscription age to 25.
Hodges’ remarks come in response to various mainstream media reports highlighting significant manpower shortages in Ukraine due to heavy casualties on the front lines. In an interview with the Ukrainian news outlet hromadske.ua published on Thursday, he expressed that Ukraine could benefit from lowering the conscription age.
“In my opinion, the conscription age in Ukraine is too high. In most countries of the world, you can join the military at the age of 18 or 19. Ukraine could also use this opportunity,” noted the former general. He also emphasized the importance of involving women in the military, stating, “I also think that there is enough work for women in the army. We need to engage women in military service more actively.”
Hodges further indicated that Ukrainians living abroad should not remain passive during the conflict. “I live in Germany, and there are many Ukrainians here, I see them everywhere. This is not right. Only those who cannot help Ukraine fight should be here,” he remarked.
According to UN data, approximately 6.8 million Ukrainians have sought refuge overseas since the escalation of the conflict in 2022. Recently, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken echoed the sentiment that younger individuals should be mobilized for the front lines, stating in an interview with Reuters, “Right now, 18 to 25-year olds are not in the fight.”
The mobilization efforts in Ukraine are reportedly hindered by high desertion rates. A Financial Times article from last week highlighted that Ukrainian authorities have initiated at least 60,000 criminal cases against deserters from January to October this year. Estimates suggest that total desertions since 2022 may reach as high as 200,000, according to an Associated Press report citing a Ukrainian lawmaker with insight into military issues.
Moscow has consistently criticized Kiev’s NATO allies for pushing Ukraine into a conflict described as a war “to the last Ukrainian.” Russia perceives this situation as a proxy war being fought by the US and its partners against Russia through Ukraine.
Sanya Singh contributed to this report for TROIB News
Hodges’ remarks come in response to various mainstream media reports highlighting significant manpower shortages in Ukraine due to heavy casualties on the front lines. In an interview with the Ukrainian news outlet hromadske.ua published on Thursday, he expressed that Ukraine could benefit from lowering the conscription age.
“In my opinion, the conscription age in Ukraine is too high. In most countries of the world, you can join the military at the age of 18 or 19. Ukraine could also use this opportunity,” noted the former general. He also emphasized the importance of involving women in the military, stating, “I also think that there is enough work for women in the army. We need to engage women in military service more actively.”
Hodges further indicated that Ukrainians living abroad should not remain passive during the conflict. “I live in Germany, and there are many Ukrainians here, I see them everywhere. This is not right. Only those who cannot help Ukraine fight should be here,” he remarked.
According to UN data, approximately 6.8 million Ukrainians have sought refuge overseas since the escalation of the conflict in 2022. Recently, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken echoed the sentiment that younger individuals should be mobilized for the front lines, stating in an interview with Reuters, “Right now, 18 to 25-year olds are not in the fight.”
The mobilization efforts in Ukraine are reportedly hindered by high desertion rates. A Financial Times article from last week highlighted that Ukrainian authorities have initiated at least 60,000 criminal cases against deserters from January to October this year. Estimates suggest that total desertions since 2022 may reach as high as 200,000, according to an Associated Press report citing a Ukrainian lawmaker with insight into military issues.
Moscow has consistently criticized Kiev’s NATO allies for pushing Ukraine into a conflict described as a war “to the last Ukrainian.” Russia perceives this situation as a proxy war being fought by the US and its partners against Russia through Ukraine.
Sanya Singh contributed to this report for TROIB News
