**Ukrainian Mountaineer Fulfills Fallen Soldier’s Dream on Everest**
A Ukrainian mountaineer has carried out a fallen soldier’s dream of standing on top of the world. Antonina Samoilova, Ukraine‘s most accomplished mountaineer, reached the summit of Mount Everest and held up a photo of Alex Granik.
**A Soldier’s Dream**
Alex Granik was a 28-year-old Ukrainian soldier who died defending Mariupol. Before he died, he wrote that his dream was to climb Mount Everest. But now, he understood that his “Everest” was actually fighting for Ukraine.
When Antonina Samoilova reached the summit, she held up Granik’s photo and fulfilled his dream. His mother later thanked her on Instagram, saying it brought her great joy.
**A Journey of Passion**
Antonina Samoilova has been mountaineering since 2018, when she climbed Mount Kilimanjaro. She was initially struggling with the altitude, but it transformed into passion through persistence. Since then, she has climbed four of the world’s fourteen 8,000 m peaks.
Her most recent achievement is summiting both Mount Everest and Lhotse within 24 hours, a record that makes her Ukraine’s national champion. This feat requires exceptional endurance, technical skill, and precise timing.
**A Platform for Advocacy**
The full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine strengthened Samoilova’s resolve to use mountaineering as a platform for bringing attention to Ukraine’s struggle. She notes that the global climbing community rallied around her in 2022, but now some people even ask if the war is over, which drives her mission to keep Ukraine’s struggle in the world’s consciousness.
**A New Goal**
Samoilova plans to organize an ascent of Hoverla, Ukraine’s highest peak, as a fundraising project for the military. She aims to bring together both experienced climbers and newcomers, using her expertise to guide others while supporting her country’s defense efforts.
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