KATHMANDU: A Ukrainian couple has set a new record in mountain climbing, becoming the first Ukrainian couple to scale the world’s fifth-highest mountain this spring season.

Igor Kushnir, 54, and his wife Oksana Kushnir, 49, successfully scaled the summit of Mt Makalu on 2 May 2026, becoming the first Ukrainian couple to stand atop one of the world's most challenging 8,000-metre peaks, said 14 Peaks Expeditions, organiser of their expedition on Mt Makalu.

Born on 14 June 1971, Igor served as deputy minister of defence of Ukraine from 2010 for two years. His wife Oksana, a Cypriot national of Ukrainian origin, is the sole ultimate beneficiary of Baltijos Gildija, one of the largest real estate companies.

According to Ukrainian government records, in 2010 Igor became deputy minister of defence, and two years later the president of Kievgorstroy – a major publicly owned construction holding company that controls a significant part of the most profitable real estate in Kyiv. Since 2016, Oksana has owned various Ukrainian investment and energy companies through the Cypriot company Koksi Holding.

“This is not just a personal triumph but a proud moment for Ukraine and the entire mountaineering community. The couple is now safely back in Kathmandu, and what a journey it has been – from the mountain's brutal altitude and demanding terrain to the warmth of the city below,” the organiser shared.

This historic summit was made possible by the exceptional climbing Sherpa team led by Lakpa Sherpa (aka Makalu Lakpa), who guided the duo to the top on his legendary ninth summit of Mt Makalu – a feat that speaks volumes about his mastery of this magnificent mountain, it added. The couple had scaled Mt Everest and other mountains in the past.