Antonina Samoilova became the first Ukrainian mountaineer in history to conquer the five highest mountain peaks in the world.

The Ukrainian climber summited Kangchenjunga (8,586 meters), the world’s third-highest peak after Everest and K2.

The mountain got the nickname “Killer of Women” because not all female climbers who attempted to climb it in the past managed to ascend and descend safely. The expedition nearly faced cancellation one day before the start due to bad weather conditions.

Samoilova encountered a life-threatening situation 200 meters from the summit when her oxygen supply ran out and both spare cylinders proved empty and unusable.

“Twenty minutes without oxygen at an altitude of 8,400 immediately hit the body. Since oxygen does not enter the blood, blood does not circulate through the body fully and immediate hypothermia of the extremities begins,” Samoilova said.

During her ascent, Tonya carried a chevron of Ukraine’s defender, 28-year-old Oleksandr Hrianyk (call sign – Hrian). He flew to besieged Mariupol in March 2022 as part of a secret special operation by the Main Intelligence Directorate, was wounded, and died on 8 May after refusing evacuation.

Antonina Samoilova is also the first Ukrainian female mountaineer to climb Everest three times and the first Ukrainian woman to conquer the peaks of Manaslu, Lhotse, and Kangchenjunga. Her achievements also include the “wild mountain” K2 and Makalu.

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