Valentina Shevchenko commemorated Victory Day by posting photographs of famous Soviet female pilots she had mentioned a month and a half earlier. The tribute included images of Marina Raskova, Valeria Khomyakova, Lydia Litvyak, Ekaterina Budanova, and Valentina Grizodubova. These pilots were celebrated heroes during World War II, and Shevchenko's post acknowledged their contributions and sacrifice. The gesture connects to her earlier comments about these historical figures and demonstrates her respect for Soviet military history.
Valentina Shevchenko marked Victory Day on May 9, 2026, by sharing photographs of five celebrated Soviet female pilots whose stories she had first referenced roughly six weeks earlier.
The tribute post featured Marina Raskova, Valeria Khomyakova, Lydia Litvyak, Ekaterina Budanova, and Valentina Grizodubova — all recognized heroes of World War II. Shevchenko's gesture honored their contributions and sacrifice, and the follow-up post connected back to comments she had made about these historical figures in late March.
Shevchenko, 38, is the reigning UFC Women's Flyweight Champion, carrying a record of 26-4-1 across her professional career. Born in Kyrgyzstan and training out of Tiger Muay Thai, she is widely regarded as one of the most technically complete fighters in the sport. Fighting out of a southpaw stance at 165 cm with a 168-cm reach, she lands 3.14 significant strikes per minute at a 52 percent accuracy rate, while also averaging 2.62 takedowns per 15 minutes — a blend of offensive tools that reflects her broad martial arts background.
The Victory Day commemoration speaks to the pride Shevchenko takes in the broader history of the former Soviet states, a cultural identity she has referenced openly throughout her public life. All five pilots she highlighted broke significant barriers for women in military aviation during the Second World War, and Shevchenko's post framed their legacy as worthy of continued remembrance.
