"Becoming a captain is a big dream." How a young female river fleet engine operator is shattering stereotypes
Friday, 21 August 2026
Ulyana Kozhemyako is the only female engine operator at Rechitsa river port. She first learned about the profession in the ninth grade, when representatives from a college visited her school. She became interested; it was as if something resonated with her.
She enrolled at Gomel State River Fleet College, and at the start of 2025 navigation season, she was assigned to Rechitsa River Port for her pre-graduation internship. She subsequently began her career there under the mandatory job placement program.
The role of a motor mechanic is generally considered a man's job, as it requires physical strength. The team has distributed duties to ensure the workload is manageable for everyone; Ulyana handles mooring, assists with general tasks on board, and maintains order, while her colleagues take on the most physically demanding work.
◽️At the same time, she has no intention of resting on her laurels and wants to continue learning and developing professionally. Ulyana makes no secret of the fact that becoming a captain is her big dream. Read more in BELTA report.
Photo by: BELTA.
