UKRAINIAN Oksana Pecheniuk has become the first woman from her war-ravaged country to graduate from the prestigious Royal Naval College.
The 20-year-old’s passing out ceremony was watched online by her proud dad — a colonel under fire on the front line.
Now ready to take on Vladimir Putin’s invaders, Oksana — whose two brothers are also naval officers — told The Sun: “I wanted to fight for my future, for the future of my children and for a free and independent Ukraine.
“I left high school in 2022 at the start of the war. For me, there was no other choice, this was something I had to do. I am the first Ukrainian woman to graduate from this college but I won’t be the last.”
Oksana arrived at the historic Royal Naval College in Dartmouth, Devon, in September 2023 — just two days short of her 18th birthday.
The college was where Prince Philip began his naval career in 1939.
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Oksana completed two courses for international cadets before moving on to the Initial Naval Training Officer course.
This is my calling and nothing is going to stop me. Your body has limits, but your mind doesn’t.
Oksana Pecheniuk
She graduated as a midshipman in December 2024 while her hero dad, Colonel Volodymyr Pecheniuk, watched from the besieged city of Pokrovsk.
Oksana is now back at the Ukrainian Naval Institute in Odesa and will become a lieutenant in her native country’s navy in June.
She said: “I had to work harder just to show people that I am as brave, strong and powerful as my country’s fight against Russia.
“I had to show authority and good leadership.
“This is my calling and nothing is going to stop me. Your body has limits, but your mind doesn’t.”
The gruelling course saw her trained in seamanship, navigation and leadership, maritime operations and a three-week deployment on board a Royal Navy ship.
She recalled: “When I first arrived at the college they didn’t realise that women were allowed in the Ukrainian navy. But I went on to surprise a lot of people.
“The first thing for me is a belief in the future and in justice. My life is built on justice.
“I’m fighting for a future, my future, my family’s future, my children and the next generations. I want people here to live in freedom.”
Oksana wants to become an Executive Officer before finally being promoted to the rank of Commanding Officer.
She added: “My dream is to push Russia away from the Black Sea.”
Last night a senior Navy source said: “It is great achievement to complete training at Dartmouth.
“If you are not up to the standard you don’t get through.
“She is a credit to a country that barely has a navy yet has managed to defeat Russia’s Black Sea fleet.”