KATHMANDU: Ukrainian mountaineer Valentyn Sypavin scaled Mt Everest this morning, completing his season’s third 8,000-metre peak as he aims to complete the Everest-Lhotse traverse for the fifth time this season.

According to Lakpa Sherpa, Expedition Leader and Managing Director of 8K Expeditions, the record-holding climber Valentyn and guide Tashi Sherpa aka Hero Tashi stood atop the world’s highest peak along with other 8K climbers at around 8:15 am.

“This is Valentyn’s ninth summit on Mt Everest and his third 8,000-metre peak of this season,” Lakpa said. Valentyn climbed Mt Dhaulagiri and Mt Makalu before heading for the Mt Everest summit this spring, he added.

Valentyn, who has already traversed Everest-Lhotse four times, will now attempt to climb Mt Lhotse after returning from the Everest summit, said Pemba Sherpa, Chairman of 8K Expeditions.

Sypavin, 42, owner of Ukrainian adventure company Alpomania, is one of the most decorated high-altitude climbers active today. He has also scaled K2 and other mountains. He holds a Guinness World Record for the highest altitude kayaking, achieved at 6,370 metres in the Atacama region of Chile. He is also a former vice-champion of the Ice Climbing World Cup.

The summiteers to reach the top of Mount Everest during the Spring 2026 season in this expedition include Valentyn Sypavin, Vladislav Safyanovskiy, Oleksii Plotnykov, Artem Stegalio, Vasyl Mytryuk, Natalia Ilenko-Lobach, Hana Yatsyna, and Diana Evgenievna Marema. On the Nepal side, IFMGA Guide Ashok Lama also reached the summit, along with climbing guides and high-altitude workers Ming Nurbu Sherpa, Dawa Sherpa, Guru Jenjen Bhote, Ming Temba Sherpa, Dawa Tenzi Sherpa, Tashi Sherpa, and Lakpa Nurbu Sherpa.