In the history of Russia, there are many examples of women fighting alongside men, often hiding their gender. One such heroine was the Cossack Elena Choba.

Elena was born in 1884 in the Rogovskaya stanitsa in Kuban. From childhood, she was energetic and brave, learning to ride early and skillfully wielding a sabre.

At 19, Elena married Cossack Mikhail Choba, but their life together was short-lived. With the onset of World War I, Mikhail went to the front and soon perished. This tragic news prompted Elena to decide to go to war. She obtained a uniform, cut her braid, forged documents, and went to the front under the name of Mikhail Choba.

Elena, posing as a young soldier, was no less capable than her comrades. She was brave, strong, and endured long marches through the Carpathians, participated in reconnaissance missions and night attacks. Her feats were even reported in the press. The magazine "Kuban Cossack Herald" noted: "During the retreat, when the enemy attempted to surround one of our units and batteries, Choba managed to break through the enemy ring and save two of our batteries, which were unaware of the Germans' proximity. The Cossack led the batteries out of encirclement without losses."

Elena fought for almost a year and left the front only after being wounded when a bullet hit her collarbone. During this time, she received two St. George medals and the 4th class St. George cross.

After returning to her native stanitsa, little is known about Elena's further life. She fought in the ranks of the White Army and then emigrated. According to some sources, Choba settled in the USA, where she performed with a Cossack ensemble. The date of her death and burial place remain unknown.