The international delegation, headed by Ana Lucía Bueno, ICRC Public Health Coordinator, and Sujit Panda, Head of the Physical Rehabilitation…
Svitlana is the commander of an assault platoon of the 92nd Separate Assault Brigade named after Kosh Otaman Ivan Sirko. She earned her authority not through words, but through combat missions during the Kupiansk operation — together with her unit, under fire and in the most difficult conditions.
This is stated in a video published on the page of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Svitlana says she joined the brigade already in an officer’s position — after graduating from the academy of command and control of mechanized units, where she was commissioned as a lieutenant.
“I came to the brigade as a platoon commander. When I arrived, they saw a small girl in front of them. I’m more than sure that at first they didn’t take me seriously”, — she recalls.
The turning point was the first combat mission.
“When they saw that I was preparing to go out, I went and I came back. Even then, they started saying among themselves that I wasn’t afraid. And then it spread like word of mouth — from one to another”, — the commander says.
According to her, after several combat missions, the attitude in the unit changed completely.
“Now there have already been three missions. As for my platoon — they are all ready to go with me now”, — Svitlana notes.
She admits that she still often hears questions from civilians about “why she needs this” and that she “could resign”. She responds directly to such remarks.
“I’m often told: you’re a girl, why do you need this? I feel like saying: war is my place”, — the commander says.
The Ground Forces emphasize that Svitlana’s story is an example of how authority in combat units is formed not by gender or rank, but by personal responsibility, presence at positions, and readiness to go alongside one’s soldiers.
