Shebekino territorial defense in Belgorod region starts recruiting women

Verstka reports that the Shebekino territorial defense in Belgorod region has announced that it’s recruiting women. Those wishing to join may take courses in basic military training, tactical medicine, and learn to fly drones.

The announcement was made by hairstylist Natalia Kolesnikova, who is herself a member of the territorial defense force. Kolesnikova added that recruiting women was not her initiative.

“I have other tasks in the related to self-defense, I can only deliver information and lead by my example that women have a place here,” she said.

When asked whether women would be included in the Shebekino “Bastion” battalion or whether they would form a separate unit, Kolesnikova said that everything would depend on the number of those wanting join.

She also said that there were no restrictions on age and physical fitness for women wishing to join the territorial defense, noting that “you need to understand for yourself that you will have to run, jump and so on, everyone decides for herself whether she can or not.”

The town of Shebekino is located just a few miles from the border with Ukraine, and it is regularly shelled. As of early July, the regional authorities estimated the damage caused by shelling to be 20 billion rubles ($219 million).