Ukrainian Tennis Player Speaks Out Against War
Tuesday, 2026/06/02284 words4 minutes259 reads
Following her 7-5, 6-1 defeat to Russia's Diana Shnaider in the French Open third round, Ukraine's Oleksandra Oliynykova delivered a powerfully emotional statement condemning Russian tennis players for their silence regarding the ongoing war. The 25-year-old, who has emerged as the strongest Ukrainian voice on the WTA Tour advocating against the conflict, read from a prepared statement emphasizing the humanitarian imperative of her stance.
"I know that some people would prefer that I stay silent. But what I do is not about politics, it's about humanity," Oliynykova declared. "When people are being killed, while children are dying, when violence is justified or celebrated, we cannot pretend that nothing is happening. We cannot look away. We cannot protect those who support or excuse such actions."
Oliynykova's criticism of Shnaider stems from the Russian player's participation in a St Petersburg exhibition sponsored by Gazprom, the state-owned gas company. Drawing a stark historical parallel, Oliynykova compared this to "playing in Nazi Germany for Gestapo officers, on the tournament organised by company which built Auschwitz." Shnaider defended her decision, citing her desire to spend time with family, but refused to discuss her position on the war.
The Ukrainian player's personal circumstances underscore the gravity of her message. Her father and boyfriend are serving soldiers, and she trained for the Australian Open without electricity or water in her Kyiv apartment. "If I am going to be silent, I don't understand what I'm doing here," she stated. "The people I love, they would be killed. I will be killed." Despite the WTA's assertion that it remains "unequivocal" in condemning the war while maintaining a "professional and respectful environment," Oliynykova continues to demand sanctions against players participating in Russian state-sponsored events.
