Commanders Shouted 'Forward' on the Radio as Young Men Died: The Story of 47-Year-Old Sniper Tetiana Khimion

Tetiana Khimion, known by her call sign 'Tango', exemplifies how unpredictable circumstances can transform a person's life. At 47, she has not only survived challenging moments but has also become a sniper, showcasing incredible strength and determination. 'I am a creative person. In the art of sniping, you need to think through everything down to the smallest details and approach each step creatively,' says Tetiana, who dedicated most of her life to ballroom dancing.

Tetiana began dancing at the age of seven, and her career in this field blossomed rapidly. By the late 1990s, she had become a coach, and even pregnancy did not stop her from continuing her choreographic activities. 'In my eighth month of pregnancy, I was showing the kids how to do a cartwheel and sit in a split. They probably expected me to start giving birth, but I stood up and told them to repeat after me. Five days after giving birth, I was already back in the dance studio. My son was always with me. He even learned to walk in the club,' she recalls with a smile.

With her one-year-old son in her arms, Tetiana opened her own dance club, 'Four Step', in her hometown of Sloviansk. 'My husband gave me $200 and said, 'Buy mirrors, a tape recorder, and go for it.' That's how a club where I could share my love for dance appeared in my city,' she explains. The name 'Four Step' symbolizes one of the elements of tango, Tetiana's favorite dance. In her opinion, this dance has character, just like herself.

There were no military personnel in Tetiana's family, and she did not attend military academies. 'I danced my whole life, wore high heels, and stockings. But I have a fighter's character. I grew up in a dormitory with boys. Throughout my childhood, I 'fought' for my place in the sun,' she explains. On February 24, 2022, the day the full-scale war began, Tetiana went with her partner to the territorial recruitment and social support center to enlist in the territorial defense. However, on the way, her partner convinced her not to join the military, and she agreed.

'If we had gone together, I wouldn't have been able to fight in the same unit as him. He would have protected and defended me. We probably would have even had scandals,' Tetiana reflects. For the first few months of the full-scale war, she volunteered in Sloviansk, but in the summer of 2022, unbeknownst to her husband, she mobilized into one of the Special Operations Forces (SOF) units.

At her first meeting with the commander, Tetiana confidently declared, 'Sniper.' She became one of the laureates of the 'UP100: Women’s Power' award in 2026. Tetiana recounts how she managed to join the SOF, how she carried out combat missions during the Zaporizhzhia counteroffensive, and how she managed to stay calm in the face of danger. 'In the summer of 2022, I joined the Special Operations Forces. By then, human hunger was already starting. I asked a friend who was entering the SOF unit to take me with him. He submitted my documents. I passed the check and joined,' she recalls.

Tetiana shares that she did not undergo any courses; she simply 'flew in on a high-speed train.' 'I don't know why I wanted to be a sniper. This profession seemed cool to me. After all, a sniper has to be cunning and creative,' she confides. Tetiana first tried shooting while volunteering, and this passion became a new path in her life. 'I shot and felt that I was succeeding, as if sniping perfectly suited my body and mind,' she says.

However, not everything was so simple. 'The commander of my unit decided that women do not go on 'combat' missions. He transferred me from the position of reconnaissance shooter-sniper to that of a cook. It was a tragedy for me. I tried to prove that I was a mature person, but he didn’t want to listen,' Tetiana recounts. Nevertheless, she managed to achieve a transfer and returned to combat missions.

Tetiana Khimion has become a symbol of strength and determination, demonstrating that women can be not only supporters but also active participants in combat operations. Her story inspires many, as she has proven that even in the most challenging conditions, one can find their place and realize their dreams.