Kostyuk Slams Russian Tennis Rivals Over Silence Amid Deadly Ukraine Attacks

Ukraine’s freshly minted French Open semi-finalist Marta Kostyuk ripped into Russian tennis opponents as having made clear “whose side they are on” by their silence after Kyiv and other cities endured a night of drone and missile attacks that killed at least 23 people.

“I want to start with this historical match that we played today with Elina [Svitolina],” said Kostyuk after defeating her compatriot. “We had a very difficult night again in Ukraine, especially Kyiv. So many people dead. I want to give this match to Ukrainian people and to their resilience … With everything that’s happening, for me being here is a real blessing, and I don’t think about winning. I’m here to represent Ukraine and to enjoy.”

Kostyuk was asked about Russian rivals including Diana Shnaider and her upcoming semi-final opponent, Mirra Andreeva, who have previously said they focus only on the tennis ball and avoid political discussion. “They are all grownups. They know what they’re talking about. They know what’s going on. They have phones. They have Instagram. They have news,” Kostyuk said. “I wish there was some more clear stance on what’s going on, especially when your country is killing other people.”

Kostyuk praised Daria Kasatkina, who switched her allegiance from Russia to Australia, as an example of someone who had publicly spoken out despite pressure on her family. “I don’t think she lives in Russia anyways, but the majority of players don’t live in Russia,” Kostyuk said. “There is nothing that’s stopping you if this is something you don’t believe in … I know some people who have left Russia the moment the war began, who sold all their business, who left everything behind because they just don’t agree with what their country is doing to other people.” Kostyuk said representing Ukraine had become more important than results.

The deadly attacks on Ukraine on Tuesday demonstrate how Russia is able to exploit a global shortage of air defence interceptor missiles, Peter Beaumont writes. The MIM-104 Patriot has been widely relied on by US allies – not least in the Gulf, as well as by Ukraine. The US-Israeli campaign against Iran, in addition to Ukraine, has triggered a scramble for the dwindling supply of interceptor missiles. Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine’s president, has repeated his plea to the US for more stocks of interceptors.

Zelenskyy said there was evidence Russian forces could strike again over Tuesday night. “According to our intelligence, another large-scale attack may occur tonight,” he said in his nightly video address. “Please, I strongly urge you to pay attention to air raid alerts … Unfortunately the current level of supplies for our air defence does not enable us to intercept a significant portion of the missiles.” More than 70 missiles and 650 drones were fired at Ukraine over Monday night and Russian forces had followed up with 100 more drones throughout Tuesday.

Officials in the eastern Ukrainian region of Kharkiv bordering Russia on Tuesday ordered the mandatory evacuation of civilians from seven towns and villages, citing increased Russian attacks. “Given the security situation and systematic enemy attacks, we are expanding the mandatory evacuation zone in the Zolochiv direction,” said Oleg Synegubov, the regional governor. The orders applied to 7,157 people.

Hungarys’ new prime minister, Péter Magyar, said he was ready to meet Zelenskyy next week to open a new chapter in relations after beating Moscow-friendly predecessor Viktor Orbán in an election. Speaking in Berlin, Magyar said he was ready to meet Zelenskyy if technical negotiations on the rights of the Hungarian minority in neighbouring Ukraine were finished this week. “So far, the negotiations are progressing very encouragingly, and we hope that they may even be concluded at the technical level this week,” Magyar said.