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47-Year-Old Ballroom Dance Teacher Leaves Studio in Sloviansk After Russian Invasion on February 24, 2022, Joins Ukrainian Armed Forces and Becomes a Member of the 78th Air Assault Regiment as a Short-Range Sniper in August 2023
The Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, led Tetiana Khimion, a 47-year-old ballroom dance teacher and mother of two, to leave the studio in Sloviansk, in the Donetsk region, to enlist in the Ukrainian Armed Forces, where she became a sniper.
Russian Invasion of Ukraine Changes Path of International Dance Judge
As a ballroom dance teacher, international judge in competitions, and a constant presence at tournaments worldwide, Tetiana saw her life change with the Russian invasion of Ukraine. At 47, she left the stage and the studio to join the Army.
In the Army, she chose an unusual role for someone coming from dance. She trained to become a sniper. The decision, she reported to the Associated Press, stemmed from previous experiences at a small shooting range she frequented with her children.
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“When I used to walk with my younger kids in the park, I sometimes shot at a small shooting range there. I could hit the bullseye and even win small prizes. I thought: maybe I can do this”, she said.
Precision and Creativity as Foundations for Working as a Sniper
Tetiana states that the profession of sniper combines two central elements of her journey: precision and creativity. According to her, the activity requires personal expression and mathematical reasoning.
“The profession of sniper is actually very creative, and I am a creative person. I need to express myself. At the same time, it is very mathematical, and I love math”.
She studied Physics and Mathematics in university. The combination of precision and creativity, she stated, made sense in light of the new reality imposed by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Integration into the 78th Air Assault Regiment in August 2023
In August 2023, Tetiana became a member of the 78th Air Assault Regiment as a short-range shooter. This role involves providing cover to assault groups on combat missions.
Before the war, her routine was marked by constant travel and international competitions. She started practicing ballroom dancing at six years old, became an international judge, and opened her own studio to train children.
“My days were very filled. We traveled to compete and represent Ukraine. Every week we went to a different city, exploring Europe, China. It was very intense, but it felt like routine”, she recalls.
Personal Transformations After Almost 3 Years of War
The Russian invasion of Ukraine put an end to the routine she described as intense and constant. On that February morning in 2022, she realized she could not continue dancing while the country was under attack.
Tetiana claims she faces each mission with discipline and composure, a demeanor she attributes to her years of working with children and the demands of sports. Nevertheless, she admits that the war has profoundly changed her.
“I have become a completely different person. I feel that I have already lived through all my emotions, feelings, and strongest moments. I want to keep living, travel to the mountains, swim in the ocean. But I realize that I will not be able to feel emotions as I did before, because the most intense ones have already been experienced”.
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