Breaking barriers: First woman joins Kazakhstan’s Burkit special forces

For the first time in the history of Kazakhstan’s National Guard, a woman has joined the operational ranks of its «Burkit» (Golden Eagle) special forces unit. Kymbat, who goes by the call sign «Kitana,» caught the unit’s attention at an international special forces competition in Dubai, where she distinguished herself with her marksmanship. She is now preparing to take the demanding tests required to earn the coveted madder beret.

How Kitana joined the special forces

Kymbat competed in the international SWAT Challenge in Dubai as a member of «Tomiris,» an all-female team representing Kazakhstan. The team took first place in the women’s category and finished 18th overall, ahead of several all-male teams.

During the competition, Kitana demonstrated exceptional shooting skills, attracting the attention of members of the Burkit unit. They invited her to join their ranks, and she accepted, becoming the first woman to enter the unit’s operational ranks.

Kymbat’s sporting achievements

By the time she joined the special forces, Kymbat had already earned dozens of awards in combat sports. She is a six-time national champion of Kazakhstan in hand-to-hand combat and a silver and two-time bronze medalist at the World Championships. She has also won silver medals at the World Cup and the European and Asian Championships.

In jiu-jitsu, Kymbat has become a three-time world and Asian champion and a two-time European champion. In mixed martial arts (MMA), she has won national and Asian titles. In combat sambo, she has claimed a national gold medal and a bronze medal at the World Championships.

At the World Police and Fire Games, she won gold in judo and silver in jiu-jitsu. Kymbat holds the title of International-Class Master of Sports in hand-to-hand combat and jiu-jitsu, as well as Master of Sports titles in sambo and MMA.

The challenge of earning the madder beret

Her next goal is to pass the demanding tests required to earn the right to wear the madder beret. The assessment involves intense physical exertion and rigorous endurance tests.

If she succeeds, Kymbat will become the first woman in the history of Kazakhstan’s National Guard to earn the right to wear the madder beret.