Our women will protect Ukrainian soil just like our men and kill Vladimir Putin’s evil forces with our own hands
CLUTCHING her Kalashnikov rifle, Ukrainian MP Kira Rudik insists Vladimir Putin seriously underestimated her nation’s women.
She believes the Russian President miscalculated when he assessed the country’s forces before the invasion as he “only counted the men”.
Speaking from besieged capital Kyiv, she told The Sun: “Like many Ukrainian women, I will defend my home, family, city and country.
“We will win this war shoulder to shoulder with our men.
“Women are part of the resistance the same way the men are.
“We say, when Putin decided to invade, he only calculated Ukrainian men.
“So he miscalculated, because women are fighting as well.
“I am happy and proud that I can bear arms along with my fellows. This is how we will win.”
Despite supposedly being on the Russian president's “kill list” she insists she is not about to seek sanctuary in the West.
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In an exclusive interview, Kira, 36, who is single, revealed: “I don’t plan to flee.
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“I know I’m on Putin’s hit list, but I’m also on many other lists.
“For example, I’m on the top ten Ukrainian bachelorettes list, so hopefully they even each other out.
“I guess I’m safe while here in Kyiv. I’m not trying to be out on the streets too much.”
When she first tweeted a picture of herself with a Kalashnikov assault rifle on February 28, it became a viral sensation.
Her message of defiance and equality — “Our #women will protect our soil the same way as our #men” — struck a nerve.
The leader of the liberal-leaning Holos Party told me: “I never held a gun in my life before that.
“The police station was giving out firearms and I decided I would take one.
“The Kalashnikov is heavy. It smells of oil and metal. I have it on my table right now.
“I haven’t had to use it on people yet — but I know how to use it and I will use it.”
I don’t plan to flee. I know I’m on Putin’s hit list, but I’m also on many other lists. For example, I’m on the top ten Ukrainian bachelorettes list, so hopefully they even each other out.
Ukrainian MP Kira Rudik
The MP has singled out the UK for being one of Ukraine’s staunchest allies.
In January, Britain sent 2,000 anti-tank missile launchers to Ukraine, which reports suggest have been lethally effective against Russian invaders on the battlefield.
The ex-IT company owner added: “Britain’s one of the countries that is helping us the most.
“But what we really need now is protection from the skies.
“Putin is a war criminal and he’s crazy. There’s no other person in the world that would attack a nuclear plant.
“If there was a no-fly zone he wouldn’t be able to bomb civilians and nuclear power plants.”
As for British volunteers flocking to fight in Ukraine, she added: “Thank you so much. We are happy to have you here to help us fight the Russians.
“But you don’t have to travel so far to help. You can join the cyber army that takes down Russian IT infrastructure.”
Cradling her Kalashnikov, she says she is off for two hours of weapon training.
Britain’s one of the countries that is helping us the most. But what we really need now is protection from the skies. Putin is a war criminal and he’s crazy. There’s no other person in the world that would attack a nuclear plant.
Kira adds with evident pride: “At the beginning of the war, the Russians said we wouldn’t last a day or two.
“So every single day we’re standing is a matter of pride. We think, ‘Ha, you were wrong, look at us’.”
Other women taking a defiant stand against Putin include 2015 Miss Ukraine Anastasia Lenna, 24.
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She posted a picture of herself with a rifle on social media, saying: “Everyone who crosses the Ukrainian border with the intent to invade will be killed!”
She also posted a photo showing soldiers with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who she called a “a true and strong leader”.
Drone in a pickle
A WOMAN downed a Russian drone with a jar of pickled gherkins as brave Ukrainians fought back against the invaders yesterday.
She hurled the glass after spotting it buzzing past her window.
Ukrainian security advisor Liubov Tsybulska tweeted: “In Kyiv a woman knocked down a Russian drone from a balcony with a jar of cucumbers. How did they expect to occupy this country?”
Social media was quickly filled with cartoons depicting the housewife with a bazooka filled with pickle jars.
Meanwhile, ten Russian soldiers taking a lift to the top of a building in Kharkiv got trapped — when the caretaker switched the power off.
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