Anastasiia Yefimova, an amateur racer and Automobile Federation of Ukraine official who ran a driving school for women, was killed in action near Dvorichna on March 22. She was 41 years old.

Yefimova was part of a grenade launcher unit in a fire support platoon, seeing action in Kharkiv Oblast. Dvorichna is a village in Kupiansk that is currently under Russian occupation.

She enlisted in the Armed Forces of Ukraine after her husband’s death on the frontlines. However, Yemifova had been supporting the AFU since the war began in 2014 by fundraising for buggies and was a member of the Kyiv Municipal Guard.

In peace, she was an instructor for the AutoLady driving school and oversaw the Ukrainian TechnoSports Federation. She also occasionally dabbled in racing on an amateur basis.

“Anastasiia always led an active life,” reads a statement from the FAU. “She participated in the work of public organizations, taught women driving skills, was involved in motorsports and volunteering, and was a loving wife and mother of two children. She joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine after her husband was killed in this war, becoming a woman warrior herself. […]

“The Automobile Federation of Ukraine extends its deepest condolences to Anastasiia Andriivna’s family and loved ones.”

Featured image credit: Oleksandra Sidletska