Russian woman scales Everest without oxygen in landmark ascent
Nikol Kovalchuk reaches the summit with Nirmal Purja, marking her 25th expedition with Elite Exped.
PC: Elite Exped
Russian climber Nikol Kovalchuk has become the first Russian woman to summit Mount Everest without supplemental oxygen, marking a rare achievement in high-altitude mountaineering.
Kovalchuk reached the world’s highest peak on May 27, 2026, alongside Nirmal Purja, the renowned Nepali mountaineer and founder of Elite Exped, a premier expedition company.
According to Elite Exped, she completed the ascent without the use of bottled oxygen. In a statement, the company said: “Climbing Mount Everest is a remarkable challenge in itself, but doing so without oxygen takes the difficulty to an entirely different level and requires years of experience, preparation, and mental fortitude.”
The summit also marked a personal milestone for Kovalchuk, representing her 25th expedition with Elite Exped. Over the years, she has completed the 14 highest peaks above 8,000 meter, the Seven Summits, and reached the South Pole as part of her broader polar and high-altitude portfolio.
Last year, she also climbed Mount Manaslu without supplemental oxygen, further consolidating her reputation in the niche field of high-altitude, no-oxygen ascents. Outside mountaineering, Kovalchuk is known as an entrepreneur and philanthropist, balancing expedition work with business and charitable activities.
Her Everest ascent places her among a small group of climbers who have reached the summit without supplemental oxygen, a feat widely regarded as one of the most demanding in mountaineering
