"A Russian state-backed private military company (PMC) is specifically attempting to recruit women into combat roles in Ukraine for the first time," the UK defence ministry said in its latest Intelligence Update on the Situation in Ukraine.
It added that "recent social media adverts have appealed for female recruits to join Borz Battalion, a part of Russian Redut PMC, to work as snipers and unmanned aerial vehicle operators."
The Redut company "is likely directly sponsored by the Russian Main Intelligence Directorate," according to the UK defence ministry.
Its intelligence update cited Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu as saying in March that 1,100 women were deployed in Ukraine, serving mostly in medical support and food service roles.
"It remains unclear whether official Russian defence forces will seek to follow suit and open more combat roles to women," the UK defence ministry said in its intelligence update on Monday.
It added: "Women have rarely taken front line fighting roles within pro-Russian forces during the current conflict; however, there was a strong tradition of female snipers and other combat troops in Soviet forces during the Second World War."
Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, launching the largest military campaign in Europe since World War II.
Monday is day 614 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
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Source: IAR, PAP
