Russia calls on women to serve in the army alongside men


The Ministry of Defense is looking for doctors, paramedics, nurses, and cooks.

Patriotic banners advertising for opportunities for Russian women to serve in the army have appeared in many cities across the Russian Federation. Adult women under the age of 50 are called to "stand alongside men,” albeit not in combat positions - the army needs doctors, paramedics, nurses, and cooks. 

According to recruitment officials, the newly-enlisted women will be deployed to units “inside Russia,” which in Moscow’s interpretation includes the annexed regions of Ukraine: Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, Zaporizhia, and the Crimean Peninsula.

Women are offered a minimum one-year contract without vacation during the first 12 months. Nurses and cooks are not required to have any training whatsoever in these professions.

The Russian Ministry of Defense offers an unspecified allowance or salary for service; under ordinary circumstances, enlisted servicemen receive 100,000 rubles (1,100 USD) in the first month and 50,000 rubles a month in the following three months. Women will also receive a one-time “presidential allowance” of 195,000 rubles.

According to publicly available data, more than 39,000 women served in the Russian armed forces in 2022, including 5,000 women in commissioned officer ranks. Reports about casualties among Russian servicewomen in Ukraine are classified.

Between 30% and 35% of the 270,000 Russian personnel lost in Ukraine died because of inadequate, incompetent, or late medical assistance to injured soldiers, according to analysts at the Conflict Intelligence Team.

Sources: TVRain, Radio Liberty, Telegram