Druzenko calls for the military to recruit not only women but also people with autism
14 August 18:12
YOUTUBE
Ukraine needs to radically rethink its approaches to mobilization and the development of its defense forces, drawing on the experience of Israel’s IDF. Gennadiy Druzenko, head of the Pirogov Mobile Military Hospital, made this statement in an interview with the "Komersant Ukrainian" YouTube channel.
He emphasized that technological advancements in the military—particularly the widespread adoption of unmanned systems—are gradually blurring the differences between the physical capabilities of men and women, opening the door to broader civilian participation in national defense.
“Before my very eyes, the army has evolved from a purely male profession. Technological advancements and drone units are effectively leveling the playing field between men and women, so if we want to survive—we have no other choice,” Druzenko is convinced.
In addition to recruiting women, the military officer suggested drawing on Israel’s experience in integrating people with special needs—particularly those with autism spectrum disorders, who possess unique analytical abilities— into military structures.
“The IDF employs people with autism because they have an incredible attention to detail: they can spend hours poring over drone imagery and spot things that no neurotypical person would notice. The point isn’t to put them in a uniform and send them running through the swamps, but to find a place for everyone in modern technology,” noted Druzenko, the head of the mobile hospital.
In his view, after the war, the state must completely overhaul the social contract: the right to vote and be elected to public office should be granted exclusively to citizens who have served in the armed forces.
“I generally believe that the right to vote—both active and passive—should be clearly linked to service in the armed forces. If you want to do business—go ahead—but if you want to lead this country and participate in its governance, pay your debt to it,” concluded Hennadiy Druzenko.
Thus, Druzenko emphasizes the need to transform the Armed Forces of Ukraine following the example of Israel, where military service is a universal duty and, at the same time, a social ladder. The introduction of technology makes it possible to effectively involve both women and people with special needs in the country’s defense.
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