Kellogg Backs Mobilization of Ukrainian Women

Retired US Lieutenant General and former presidential envoy Keith Kellogg backed the mobilization of women into Ukraine’s Defense Forces, arguing that they can fight as effectively as men. Speaking with Anna Maksymchuk in an interview posted to Naspravdi MAX’s YouTube channel on Monday, Aug. 24, Kellogg said women’s service should be viewed as part of society’s broader contribution to the war.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. “Do I think women should be mobilized into the army? My answer is yes, because they fight just as well as men,” Kellogg said. Women in military service Citing his own family’s military experience, particularly that of his wife and daughter, Kellogg said he saw no real obstacle to women serving in the military, either personally or professionally. His daughter reportedly graduated from a US military academy and served in Afghanistan, while his wife served as a paratrooper who took part in combat operations in the Caribbean island of Grenada. Currently, Ukraine allows women to join the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) voluntarily, while some categories of women – such as those with medical or pharmaceutical qualifications – are required to register for military service, though that does not mean automatic conscription or assignment to combat duties. Meanwhile, Ukrainian women are increasingly taking on dangerous humanitarian roles, including delivering aid in frontline areas and serving as evacuation medics, as the war has reduced the number of available male volunteers. Other Topics of Interest At 35, Ukraine Has No More Time to Fail Ukraine’s path to EU membership is the greatest achievement secured by its people in their fight for survival. Those who support the country should not be afraid to put real pressure on Zelensky to protect it. Kellogg praises women serving in the AFU During the conservative international forum, “35 Years of Faith and Freedom,” held in Kyiv on Sunday, Aug. 23, Kellogg praised Ukrainian women already serving in the military. “Women who serve in the infantry, as snipers, drone operators, medics, and commanders – more than 60,000 members of the AFU – are overcoming barriers and proving that courage has no gender,” Kellogg said, according to a Shelter correspondent. He also praised Ukrainian veterans as “the living embodiment of Ukraine’s will to be free,” adding that they would remain central to the country’s postwar recovery when they return to regular civilian life. Kellogg urged Ukraine to provide them proper medical care, psychological support, and fair reintegration, warning that “a nation that forgets its defenders and heroes forgets itself.” Pence also attends forum According to Ukrinform, former UVice President Mike Pence also attended the forum, which aimed to promote and strengthen traditional Western values – “including faith in God, respect for freedom, security, and private property.” He recalled the Soviet Union “collapsed under the weight of its corruption and oppression,” adding that the world had learned a lesson from that experience. “The final word does not belong to the tyrant – it belongs to God,” he said, according to Ukrinform. The forum also saw the launch of the “Faith and Freedom Center,” a think tank intended to develop documents and recommendations on applying conservative approaches to Ukraine’s reconstruction. It will serve as a platform for engagement with Western conservatives, Ukrinform reported. Nina Savić is a Cultural Studies graduate with a strong focus on critical analysis of discourse and media. She is particularly drawn to stories and perspectives often overlooked or erased by mainstream narratives, and is passionate about giving a voice to those pushed to the margins.