Rayana, the first woman to serve in the Sheikh Mansur Chechen Volunteer Battalion, died in combat against Russian forces, the unit said. She was a Ukrainian drone operator who joined in 2024, according to memorial accounts.
The battalion's statement also named fighter Khamza among those killed. It did not say when or where the deaths occurred or describe the fighting.
A memorial notice from the League of Muslim Women of Ukraine described Rayana as a Ukrainian who operated drones. Before serving, she taught Muay Thai and was raising a son, she said in a 2024 United News telethon interview. “I know where the enemy is and I can do something about it,” Rayana said, explaining what she could do at the front.
Seiran Arifov, head of the Alraid All-Ukrainian Association of Social Organisations, said Odesa, where Rayana’s family lives, was expected to host her funeral. He did not specify a date or venue. Olha Konoval's tribute recalled Rayana caring for a mosque in Kostiantynivka, in Donetsk Oblast.
