Ukraine’s basketball team is stuck in Spain following Russian leader Vladimir Putin ’s decision to invade the country.
Spain won their match against Ukraine 88-74, with the match taking place on Thursday, just hours after Russia began their invasion. A minute’s silence took place before and after the match at the Vista Alegre Palace, while the sold-out crowd gave the Ukrainian team a standing ovation as some players burst into tears after the match.
The emotional scenes were perhaps encapsulated by basketball star Artem Pustovyi, whose tears blurred the words ‘No War’ emblazoned on his cheeks. He insisted the team wanted to be ‘strong like the whole country’ in the match against Spain amid the war scenes.
“It must be the most difficult day of my life,” Pustovyi told Reuters after the FIBA World Cup qualifying clash. “We were all awake at 5am with the news about the war and the invasion.
“Nobody could believe what is happening with our country. It is impossible to think about a game when you know your family is in pain, with your country's being bombed at the same time.”
Pustovyi admitted he understood the match had to be played and claimed his team used the harrowing opportunity to show the world and the Ukrainian people their strength.
“We try not to panic and be strong like the whole country,” the 29-year-old said. “The support we had from Spanish fans was heartwarming.
“But it was important to also see our fans in the stands because we share the same pain.”
On Tuesday, the Ukraine national team arrived in Spain after FIBA had postponed what would have been the second game between the two sides on Sunday in Kyiv.
The rescheduled match on Thursday in Cordoba was confirmed by the FIBA earlier that morning.
Ukrainian head coach Ainars Bagatskis declared to Reuters that his players had performed admirably, adding: “Trust me, there is no way someone can be mentally prepared for playing a game under these circumstances.
“I’m proud about my players for the way they found energy and emotions to get into the court. I hope nobody has to go through what we went today.”
Outside the Cordoba arena during the game, a small group of Ukrainian supporters protested the Russian invasion, while many Spanish fans stopped in front of the team’s hotel to show their support during the day.
There is great uncertainty regarding what the players, staff and media of the Ukrainian team will do, and a charter flight due to take them from Madrid to Kyiv on Friday morning was cancelled.
With Ukrainian airspace closed, the delegation will head to Madrid on Friday morning and will stay in the Spanish capital while liaising with the Ukrainian embassy.
