Russian tennis player Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova has said she is in 'complete fear' as she voiced her concerns about her country’s war with Ukraine.
As the people of the Eastern European country continue to flee for their lives amid the invasion, the world of sport has shared their support.
New world number one Daniil Medvedev and Dubai Open champion Andrey Rublev prayed for peace and an end to the war, and now their compatriot posted a heartfelt message on social media in response to the tragic events.
The Russian women’s number one wrote: “I’ve been playing tennis since I was a kid. I have represented Russia all my life.
“This is my home and my country. But now I am in complete fear, as are my friends and family.
“But I am not afraid to clearly state my position. I am against war and violence.”
The world number 14 added: “Personal ambitions or political motives cannot justify violence. This takes away the future not only from us, but also from our children. I am confused and do not know how to help in this situation.
“I’m just an athlete who plays tennis. I am not a politician, not a public figure, I have no experience in this. I can only publicly disagree with these decisions taken and openly talk about it.”
She ended her message with a clear and bold message which read: “Stop the violence, stop the war.”
Last week Rublev wrote “No war please” on a camera lens after he won his match in Dubai, en route to winning the tournament.
“In these moments you realise that my match is not important," he said afterwards.
"It’s not about my match, how it affects me. Because what’s happening is much more terrible."
While competing at the Mexico Open in Acapulco, Medvedev added: “By being a tennis player, I want to promote peace all over the world. We play in so many different countries.
“I’ve been in so many countries as a junior and as a pro. It’s just not easy to hear all this news.”
There may be light at the end of the tunnel as talks between Ukraine and Russia regarding an end to the violence are ongoing.
As the conflict enters its fifth day, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed that 16 Ukrainian children have been killed and another 45 have been injured.
Yesterday, Ukraine’s Interior Ministry said 352 Ukrainian civilians have been killed and another 1,684 people have been wounded.
Earlier, Mr Zelenskyy addressed Russian soldiers directly, telling them 4,500 Russian troops have been killed and urged them to lay down their weapons and leave.
"Don't trust your commanders, don't trust your propaganda, just save your lives," he said.
