Arestovych, Bezuhla, and the Conscription of Women: Why Fakes about Mobilization Are Taken Seriously
23 June 2025 17:38
Oleksiy Arestovych stated on his social media that in the fall of 2025, tentatively in October or November, women’s mobilization may begin in Ukraine, and that the age threshold for mobilization is expected to be lowered. So far, no such decisions have been officially made, and government officials have not publicly confirmed these intentions. At the same time, the issue is causing lively debate both in society and among the political leadership.
The idea of lowering the mobilization age has been discussed for a long time. Some officials and experts have advocated for such changes, but President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly spoken out against such initiatives.
At the same time, MP Mariana Bezuhla, known for her loud statements, continues to insist on the need to involve women in mobilization, including to the front lines, and not just to work in the rear. As of now, no official decision has been made on the mobilization of women or on changing the age criteria for mobilization in Ukraine, but these topics remain among the hottest in the context of war.
War is about rationality, not emotions
Former spokesperson for the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (2014-2017), military journalist Vladyslav Selezniov, in an exclusive commentary for [comersant ], expressed his position on the potential mobilization of women, lowering the draft age and the quality of training of mobilized citizens. He emphasizes the importance of balanced decisions and the responsibility of each military leader. Selezniov calls for caution with public statements on mobilization, noting that the information space is extremely influential today.
In the 21st century, the century of information, each of us is de facto an information agent. We have access to the Internet, gadgets, social networks. But with this mouth on your head, you need to have a little brain to make rational decisions and not spread panic,” Selezniov said.
The former General Staff spokesperson emphasizes that such strategic decisions should be made solely on the basis of analysis, not emotions or statements by public figures.
Whether it is advisable to mobilize women or lower the conscription age is a matter exclusively within the competence of the military and political leadership. And it should be based on analytical data, not on the opinions of public opinion leaders,” Mr. Vladyslav is convinced.
Mobilization is not about quantity but quality
Mr. Selezniov believes that increasing the number of troops does not guarantee effectiveness. The main focus should be on quality training.
I am a supporter of the idea that victory is achieved not by quantity but by quality. Instead of haphazardly increasing the size of the army, we need to increase the effectiveness of training of mobilized personnel. Basic military training should not be a formality, but a real preparation for combat,” the expert is sure.
Selezniov emphasizes that the Ukrainian military should be not just a number, but a professional force capable of destroying the enemy, and not dying senselessly.
“I remain committed to the idea that Ukraine is not worth dying for – it is worth killing for. This requires high-quality training, modern weapons and smart command,” emphasizes Selezniov.
According to Selezniov, leaders at all levels must not only command effectively, but also be personally responsible for their actions.
The commander is responsible for the safety of the lives and health of his subordinates. And if he or she fails to fulfill his or her duties, he or she must be held accountable, including criminally. We have a lot of cases regarding the improper arrangement of fortifications. War is not an improvisation, but a responsible and rational activity,” summarizes the former spokesman for the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Arestovych is a fake who has no influence
Ivan Stupak, a former employee of the Security Service of Ukraine and a military expert, in a conversation with KU journalists, harshly criticized Oleksiy Arestovych’s recent statements about the possibility of mobilizing women in 2025, as well as the public activity of MP Mariana Bezuhla. Stupak questioned any significance of Arestovych’s statements in the context of the state’s defense policy:
“Arestovych? Who is this? It’s a fake, a “puff piece”. He does not decide anything, he has never had access to important information. His function was simply to anesthetize society at the beginning of the war. That’s all. He had no analytical or governmental powers,” says Stupak.
According to the expert, even during the period when Arestovych was introduced as an advisor in the Presidential Office, his presence was formal:
“I talked to people from the president’s entourage – he never received any documents, had no influence. This is a media product, not an advisor,” the expert is convinced.
Bezuhla generates scandals, not solutions
Ivan Stupak commented in a similar way on the public activity of MP Mariana Bezuhla.
“I know Mariana personally, but I do not understand what motivates her. She has no clear vision, no legislative or military strategy. Her statements are something between chaos and populism,” says Stupak.
Ivan Stupak expressed doubts about the idea of expanding mobilization, particularly of women, as an effective strategy in the current situation.
“Even if we mobilize everyone tomorrow – women, drivers, baristas, yesterday’s schoolchildren – this will be our last human reserve. And Russia will still have a reserve. And what’s next? Recapture Crimea? I doubt it. Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia? Not realistic for now,” says the military expert.
According to the expert, the main focus should not be on high-profile initiatives, but on practical defense capabilities. Ivan Stupak calls on politicians and the media to refrain from populism and fakes and focus on the main thing – effective defense.
We need to do less with emotions and invest more in what really helps to stop the enemy – weapons, training, and strategic planning. Otherwise, we risk simply exhausting all resources without any result,” the expert is convinced.
Thus, according to the experts, Ukraine cannot afford to make strategic decisions under the influence of information injections. Mobilization policy should be based only on analytics, not on emotions and social media. And public statements by politicians without real authority can cause no less damage than military defeats.
Author – Daryna Glushchenko
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