Ruslan((doppelganger @Ruslanvk1975 - Twitter Profile

She was born Russian in distant Chelyabinsk — and died Ukrainian on the Wild Fields: the story of Olga Simonova (“Simba”), a Russian woman who became a Hero of Ukraine. She was born in the Russian city of Chelyabinsk. An athlete from a young age — karate, jiu-jitsu, rock climbing. A Master of Sports candidate who even competed at the European Championships. Her life once seemed as clear and predictable as a climbing route in the mountains. But 2014 changed everything. When she heard “Crimea is ours” and learned about the war in Donbas, she felt the imperial madness consuming her country — something she simply could not accept. The shame hit her harder than any martial arts strike ever could. She packed a backpack and bought a one-way ticket to Kyiv. “Will you come back?” her relatives asked. “No.” She renounced her Russian citizenship, mailing back her passport. In the end, she had nothing left except the truth she found in Ukraine. At first, she worked as a paramedic in a volunteer military hospital. But soon she realized she wanted not only to save lives — she wanted to fight. In 2016, she signed a contract with the Armed Forces of Ukraine and served in the reconnaissance unit of the 24th King Danylo Brigade. A senior soldier became a sergeant; a riflewoman became a BMP commander. In 2017, Olga Simonova became the first foreign servicemember to receive a Ukrainian passport. She learned the language and studied Ukrainian history. She disliked both sexism and empty stereotypes. “Stand in my place at a checkpoint,” she used to say, “then we can talk about borscht.” Her comrades remembered her as cheerful, fair, genuine — and deeply compassionate. She rescued cats and dogs from the war zones of Donbas: Pusha, Kit, Dashka… all of them were animals saved from the front. She tried to live a civilian life. Bought an apartment in Kyiv, bought a car. But she couldn’t stay away. In 2021, she returned to the army once again. On February 24, 2022, “Simba” went back to the front lines. She defended the hottest sectors in Luhansk region, then fought in the south. She was killed in Donetsk region near Soledar, detonating an explosive device during a combat mission. Hundreds gathered in Kyiv to say goodbye — fellow soldiers, volunteers, military personnel. A small toy lion cub, Simba, was placed on her coffin. By presidential decree, Senior Sergeant Olga Simonova was posthumously awarded the title Hero of Ukraine. She was born Russian in distant Chelyabinsk. But she died Ukrainian on the Wild Fields. Because she became a symbol of a future where true Ukrainians are not defined by birth — but by the heart. Eternal memory and honor to her.

Oct7NeverForget's tweet photo. She was born Russian in distant Chelyabinsk — and died Ukrainian on the Wild Fields: the story of Olga Simonova (“Simba”), a Russian woman who became a Hero of Ukraine.

She was born in the Russian city of Chelyabinsk.
An athlete from a young age — karate, jiu-jitsu, rock climbing. A Master of Sports candidate who even competed at the European Championships. Her life once seemed as clear and predictable as a climbing route in the mountains.

But 2014 changed everything.

When she heard “Crimea is ours” and learned about the war in Donbas, she felt the imperial madness consuming her country — something she simply could not accept. The shame hit her harder than any martial arts strike ever could.

She packed a backpack and bought a one-way ticket to Kyiv.

“Will you come back?” her relatives asked.

“No.”

She renounced her Russian citizenship, mailing back her passport. In the end, she had nothing left except the truth she found in Ukraine.

At first, she worked as a paramedic in a volunteer military hospital. But soon she realized she wanted not only to save lives — she wanted to fight.

In 2016, she signed a contract with the Armed Forces of Ukraine and served in the reconnaissance unit of the 24th King Danylo Brigade. A senior soldier became a sergeant; a riflewoman became a BMP commander.

In 2017, Olga Simonova became the first foreign servicemember to receive a Ukrainian passport.

She learned the language and studied Ukrainian history. She disliked both sexism and empty stereotypes.

“Stand in my place at a checkpoint,” she used to say, “then we can talk about borscht.”

Her comrades remembered her as cheerful, fair, genuine — and deeply compassionate.

She rescued cats and dogs from the war zones of Donbas: Pusha, Kit, Dashka… all of them were animals saved from the front.

She tried to live a civilian life. Bought an apartment in Kyiv, bought a car. But she couldn’t stay away.

In 2021, she returned to the army once again.

On February 24, 2022, “Simba” went back to the front lines. She defended the hottest sectors in Luhansk region, then fought in the south.

She was killed in Donetsk region near Soledar, detonating an explosive device during a combat mission.

Hundreds gathered in Kyiv to say goodbye — fellow soldiers, volunteers, military personnel. A small toy lion cub, Simba, was placed on her coffin.

By presidential decree, Senior Sergeant Olga Simonova was posthumously awarded the title Hero of Ukraine.

She was born Russian in distant Chelyabinsk.

But she died Ukrainian on the Wild Fields.

Because she became a symbol of a future where true Ukrainians are not defined by birth — but by the heart.

Eternal memory and honor to her.

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Ruslanvk1975 retweeted

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya

@Tsihanouskaya

about 2 months ago

Today, I witnessed firsthand the consequences of yesterday’s Russian attack on Kyiv. Russia is deliberately trying to break people through fear, darkness, and constant nighttime attacks. But every such strike reveals the true nature of Putin’s regime — a regime that recognizes neither human life, nor international law, nor borders. And the Lukashenka regime bears its share of responsibility for this because it allowed Belarusian territory to be used for aggression, for launching missiles, and for deploying Russian weapons. But I want Ukrainians to know: Belarusians stand with you. We support Ukraine not because it is ‘politically correct’, but because we feel this pain as our own. We see your courage after every attack. That is true strength. And I am convinced: no missile can break a nation fighting for its freedom and dignity.