Ukrainian Tennis Player Speaks Out Against War
Tuesday, 2026/06/02174 words3 minutes263 reads
Ukrainian tennis player Oleksandra Oliynykova delivered an emotional speech after losing to Russian opponent Diana Shnaider at the French Open. The 25-year-old read a prepared statement criticizing Russian players for not speaking out against the war in Ukraine.
"I know that some people would prefer that I stay silent. But what I do is not about politics, it's about humanity," Oliynykova said. She emphasized that when people are being killed and children are dying, we cannot pretend nothing is happening.
Before the match, Oliynykova accused Shnaider of supporting the war because she played in a Russian exhibition event sponsored by Gazprom, a state-owned company. Shnaider defended her decision, saying she wanted to spend time with family and friends at home.
Oliynykova's personal situation is difficult. Her father and boyfriend are serving soldiers, and she had no electricity or water in her Kyiv apartment while training. She believes speaking out is essential, saying if she stays silent, she doesn't understand her purpose. Ukrainian fans strongly supported her during the match, and she thanked them afterward.
