Valentina Shevchenko posted photos commemorating Victory Day, featuring Soviet female pilots she had previously mentioned a month and a half ago. The photos included Marina Raskova, Valeriya Khomyakova, Lydia Litvyak, Yekaterina Budanova, and Valentina Grizodubova. Details about the context of her earlier mention or the significance of these specific pilots to Shevchenko are limited in the post.
Valentina Shevchenko used Victory Day on May 9 to pay tribute to a group of pioneering Soviet female pilots, sharing photos of the aviators on social media to mark the occasion.
The Women's Flyweight champion posted images of Marina Raskova, Valeriya Khomyakova, Lydia Litvyak, Yekaterina Budanova, and Valentina Grizodubova — figures she had reportedly referenced roughly a month and a half prior. The specific context of that earlier mention was not detailed in the post.
Shevchenko, nicknamed "Bullet," holds a professional record of 26-4-1 and currently sits atop the Women's Flyweight division at 38 years old. The Kyrgyzstan-born fighter trains out of Tiger Muay Thai and competes as a southpaw, standing 165 cm tall with a 168 cm reach. She lands 3.14 significant strikes per minute at a 52 percent striking accuracy rate, and also contributes on the ground with 2.62 takedowns per 15 minutes.
The Victory Day post reflects a personal dimension to Shevchenko that extends beyond competition. The five pilots she highlighted were notable figures in Soviet aviation history, each associated with World War Two-era military service. The connection Shevchenko drew to these women offers a glimpse into the historical figures she holds in regard, even if the full reasoning behind her selection was left largely unexplained in the post itself.
