Former Ukrainian MP now works on frontline as anti-tank missile operator

A former Ukrainian MP has taken up a very different role following the Russian invasion, working on the frontlines as an anti-tank guided missile operator.

Tetiana Chornovol, 42, turned to politics in 2014 when she was elected to the Ukrainian parliament as a member of the nationalist and conservative People's Party.

Before entering Parliament, the former journalist was well known for her investigative reports about corruption in Ukraine, and in 2013 was one of the leaders of the pro-European, anti-corruption, Euromaidan protests which saw months of civil unrest and protests.

On Christmas Day in 2013, the mother-of-two was dragged from her car and beaten, suffering a broken nose, concussion and bruising. It is believed her work as a journalist lead to her being targeted.

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Following protests in early 2014, Chornovol was arrested and charged with murder in connection with a Molotov cocktail attack, something which Chornovol denied and said were "trumped up" charges. It is not clear how the case ended.

Her husband Mykola Berezovyi was killed during fighting in eastern Ukraine in 2014 while serving as a volunteer fighter in the far-right Azov Battalion.

Now, Tetyana is in the Ukrainian Army and works as a trained Stugna-P anti-tank guided missile operator.

Her unit, one of many positioned north of capital Kyiv, is tasked with engaging and destroying Russian tanks and armoured vehicles in order to stop the Russian army's approach to the country's capital.

Vladimir Putin's forces are now on the 27th day of fighting following their invasion on 24 February, but have yet to take control of the capital of Kyiv as they face fierce resistance.

Chornovol is among a huge number of Ukrainians who have paused their everyday jobs to take up arms in defence of their country.

Describing her most recent hit, she said: "The tank literally flew off the road and now it is somewhere in the road ditch in the forest.

"One destroyed tank was enough to stop the attack, for the column to turn back and run away," she said.

Speaking from a ditch on the frontlines outside of Kyiv she added: "We saw tanks appearing and we literally ran to our position. I ran to my operator's seat, not a seat but rather a case."

"I switch it on and see tanks on the screen. They just entered within the range of my missile. I took aim and destroyed the first tank."

"Interestingly, the rocket was flying for quite some time. Perhaps the tanks registered the rocket's launch and managed to turn back but I shot it right at the fuel tanks and the ammunition load has detonated.

"The tank literally flew off the road and now it is somewhere in the road ditch in the forest. After that we came under fire, not for long, all during this time the (Russian) military vehicles were turning back and escaping."

When asked what she would like to say to soldiers trying to invade her country, she said: "Better they do not come here, they will end up buried here, they will become fertiliser.

"Better they go home and not listen to their evil government."