Commander at 20: Yelyzaveta Pyshnyak Leads the 'Vampires' on the Front.

20-year-old Yelyzaveta Pyshnyak, who controls unmanned aerial vehicles, decided to enlist in the army despite the opinions of her loved ones. She hails from the Rivne region and serves in the 41st Separate Mechanized Brigade. The unit in which she serves is called 'Vampirists' due to their management of Ukrainian strike drones named 'Vampir'.

According to Pyshnyak, initially it was challenging for her among a group of guys, but over time she found common ground with her subordinates. She even teaches other fighters to operate the drones. For her, piloting the 30-kilogram 'Vampirs' is a normal thing.

Together with her fighters, Yelyzaveta participated in combat actions, enhancing her skills in drone management. She does not know what she will do after the war, but she is eager to continue serving in the army. According to her, army service is hard to replace with civilian life.

Mobilization of Women into the Military

The issue of women's mobilization in Ukraine is widely discussed. People’s Deputy Mariana Bezuhla stated that both genders should protect the country on the front lines. She supports the mobilization of women and believes that illegal discrimination against men in this matter is unacceptable in Ukraine.

According to People’s Deputy Oleksandr Fedienko, the Ukrainian army needs people, and no one will force women to engage in combat against their will. Diplomat and former Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valeriy Zaluzhny believes that the mobilization of women should only occur in case of an extraordinary need.

It is also worth noting that employers increasingly prefer women due to complications with the reservation and mobilization of men.