She trades her ballet shoes for an AK-47

A professional Ukrainian dancer trades her ballet shoes for an Ak-47 rifle and to defend her country against the Russians.

She trades her ballet shoes for an AK-47

A professional Ukrainian dancer trades her ballet shoes for an Ak-47 rifle and to defend her country against the Russians.

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Aged 30, Olesia Vorotnyk has been dancing professionally since 2009 according to the British media "The Economist".

She joined the national dance troupe, the equivalent of Canada's great broomsticks, but in Ukraine.

Her husband lost his life three years ago in the conflict that followed the 2014 conquest of Crimea by the Russians.

She swore to herself that if a war started, she would take up arms to defend her country.

After initially being turned down, she joined the Homeland Defense Forces.

"As a ballerina, I wasn't at the top of the list," she says.

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