MOSCOW, December 20 - RAPSI. A group of State Duma legislators is drafting a law providing for Russian women to be able to serve in the military alongside their conscripted male peers, Izvestia reported on Thursday.

MP Tatiana Moskalkova told Izvestia that they want to use the Israeli army as an example, where everybody serves, regardless of gender.

According to the bill, Russian women will undertake one year's military service, but only if they wish to.

Moskalkova believes that this system will encourage women to serve. With these additional army personnel, medical or psychological services could be created. Moskalkova also states that, as in the Israeli army, Russian women should receive benefits for serving in the military.

As of 2012, almost 50,000 women serve in combat positions and about the same number serve in administrative positions for the Russian Armed Forces.
Of these, 1.5% hold high-ranking positions, while the rest have staff positions, serving as specialists in areas such as medical and financial services, or in communication units.

Women are also contracted as privates and sergeants in practically all sections of the armed forces.