00:03Is the EU demanding that Ukraine mobilise women to bolster its forces against the Russian invasion?
00:10The short answer is no. It's a false narrative that has sprung up on X and in Telegram channels in
00:16recent weeks, according to both EU and Ukrainian authorities.
00:20Ukraine's Center for Countering Disinformation says that the claim stems from Russia's intelligence agency, which falsely claimed that Brussels is
00:28pressuring Kyiv to adopt the measure.
00:30Russia also wrongly said that the EU's foreign policy chief, Kaya Kalas, called the move a step in the right
00:36direction.
00:37However, there's no record of any EU politician making such a demand, and no reputable news outlet has reported it
00:44either.
00:45Women can join Ukraine's defence forces voluntarily, but there's no move to forcibly mobilise them as things stand.
00:52Neither is there any legislation to do so making its way through Parliament.
00:57The Center for Countering Disinformation said previously that pro-Russian propagandists had spread a false claim that Western media had
01:04launched a campaign in support of mobilising Ukrainian women.
01:08It said it was based on an article published by The Telegraph about women's experiences serving in the army.
01:14But the article only mentions mobilisation for women once, in the context of a drone operator's personal views.
01:21Andreas Kobilius, European Commissioner for Defence and Space, has also poured cold water on any notion that the EU is
01:28demanding that Ukraine force women into the army.
01:31I would say it would be strange if Europe will try to convince Ukrainians how to make mobilisation, including mobilisation
01:42of women.
01:42The conscription of women has become a talking point in Europe in recent months, though.
01:48Denmark became the most recent country on the continent to bring it in this year, as part of a lottery
01:53-style system.
01:54of course And that was the only place.
01:54of course
01:58of course
01:59they have been more.
01:59they are
01:59of course
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