Ukrainian soldier who served in Israel: Ideological motivation burns out fast

A 25-year-old Ukrainian woman who served in both the Israeli and Ukrainian armies says ideological motivation alone burns out quickly among young soldiers, urging systemic reforms to retain personnel and support female service members. Natalia from Odesa served in Israeli search-and-rescue and engineering units before joining Ukraine's Armed Forces in August 2025, operating drones and FPV strikes on Zaporizhzhia and Kupiansk fronts. She criticizes the lack of women's equipment sizing, childcare mechanisms during mobilization, and effective harassment reporting channels. She notes many veterans return to service because civilian reintegration fails, and recommends Israel's model of school-level military orientation and financial compensation for personally purchased gear.