By Liana Jacob
MEET THE GLAM Ukrainian student who has managed to successfully join a combat unit as the only lady in a frontline artillery troop.
Journalism student, Polina Kravchenko (23), from L’viv, Ukraine, joined the 56th Individual Motorised Brigade in Ukraine as the only female in her troop.
Pictures show Polina in uniform standing to attention with rifle in hand, looking up from the inside of a tank and taking part in military drills – as well as her glamourous civilian life where she dresses to kill and has makeup to die for.
“When I was selected, I was infinitely happy,” Polina said.
“I am now in the 56th individual motorised brigade. We take part in the war in the east. I’m the only girl in the artillery troop.
“The most difficult was to get through the course of a young soldier; we had a great deal of physical activity, we didn’t know the duties of a soldier.
“We work according to the schedule of the day; climbing at 6AM and rebound at 10PM. We work to defend our land seven days a week, without weekend breaks.”
The war in Donbass, Ukraine, is an armed conflict and started on April 6, 2014 and is currently still going on between the Russians and Ukrainians.
From the beginning of March 2014, protests by pro-Russian and anti-government groups took place in the Donetsk and Luhansk blasts of Ukraine, together known as the “Donbass”, in the aftermath of the 2014 Ukrainian revolution and the Euromaidan movement.
“The army co-ordinates my life,” she said.
“I feel supported. I look at life through other peoples’ eyes. The army is teaching me to be stronger, more restrained and to fight.
“I am proud of my friends, relatives and friends because this has been a difficult path and a great responsibility.”
For more information visit: https://www.instagram.com/pkravchenko1322/
