Tennis players Vitalia Dyachenko from Russia and Katerina Beindl from Ukraine continue to communicate even a year after the start of the special military operation (SVO). Dyachenko herself spoke about this in an interview with Izvestia.
Earlier, a number of Ukrainian tennis players, in particular, Marta Kostyuk, refused the traditional post-match handshake if they played against Russians or Belarusians.
“Most Ukrainian girls simply stopped saying hello and talking. Except for a few people. For example, Katya Kozlova (maiden name Beindl. – Ed.), With whom we are good friends. There are a few people who understand what is happening and that it is not our fault. And the rest behave inappropriately, ”Dyachenko told Izvestia.
The 31-year-old Russian woman also recalled that her father was from Ukraine, he was born and raised in Lugansk, when he was part of the Ukrainian SSR.
“I moved to Russia a long time ago, but the fact that I was born here does not change who my parents are by nationality and what kind of blood flows in me. We will not be responsible for what kind of passport we have. We are still one nation. I thought so and will continue to think so, ”the tennis player explained.
Earlier this week, Vitalia Dyachenko became involved in a scandal with the Polish airline LOT Airlines, whose employees did not let her on a flight from Cairo to Nice, from where the Russian woman was supposed to go to the tournament on the island of Corsica. Due to the missed flight, she lost her chance to take part in the competition in France.
Read more in an exclusive interview with Izvestia:
“Russian athletes find fault the most”
