Oksana Volodymyrivna Rubaniak (Ukrainian: Оксана Володимирівна Рубаняк; pseudo - Ksena; born 28 January 2003, Hramotne, Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast[1][2]) is a Ukrainian poet, writer, civic activist, servicewoman (lieutenant),[3] platoon commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, participant of the Russian-Ukrainian war.
Biography
She graduated from the Ivano-Frankivsk College of Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University (2022, with honors,[4] specialty - primary school teacher),[5] the Military Department of PNU (2023), and the National Pedagogical Drahomanov University (part-time).[1] Since 2022, she has been studying at the Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University, specializing in Public Administration and Management.
She worked as an engaged specialist at the Department of Youth Policy and Sports of the Ivano-Frankivsk City Council.[1][6] She organized MMA competitions among military personnel.[7][8]
On 24 February 2022, she joined the ranks of the Volunteer Formation of the Ivano-Frankivsk Territorial Community No. 3, and then the Armed Forces of Ukraine. She is the only woman among the soldiers of the machine gun platoon of the 72nd Mechanized Brigade.[1][9][10] She performed combat missions at the Vuhlehirsk thermal power plant, Zaitseve, as well as on the Bakhmut, Marianka and Vuhledar directions.
In March 2023, she was seriously injured in Vuhledar. In late June of the same year, she returned to the front.[8][11]
She is currently a platoon commander in the Armed Forces of Ukraine.[12] In March 2024, Oksana's photo appeared on the cover of Vogue Ukraine.,[13] and later she was included in the rating "UP 100. Power of Women" according to the Ukrainska Pravda.[14] In September of the same year, she was included in the rating "30 Under 30: Future Leaders" by Forbes Ukraine.[3][15]
Creative work
She is the author of the poetry collections "Ornamenty doli" (2020)[1][16] "Nazustrich smerti" (2023),[17] and "Doroha zhyttia" (2024).[18][19]
Awards
a scholarship holder of the President of Ukraine (23 September 2020),[20] the heads of the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional State Administration and Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Council (29 September 2020),[21] and the Lozynski Foundation (2023)[22]
Gratitude from the Mayor of Ivano-Frankivsk (17 November 2021)[23]
Award of the Mayor of Ivano-Frankivsk "For Honor and Victory" (29 March 2023)[24]
President of Ukraine award "For Defense of Ukraine" (2023)[25]
^Розпорядження голів Івано-Франківської ОДА та Івано-Франківської обласної ради «Про призначення стипендії голови облдержадміністрації та голови обласної ради студентам вищих навчальних закладів» від 29 вересня 2020 р. № 504/600-р.
