The Daily Star Lebanon Breaking News, Lebanon News, Middle East News & World News
On Monday, July 8, Ukrainian tennis player Elina Svitolina wore a black ribbon during her Round of 16 match at Wimbledon 2024. This gesture was in response to an alleged Russian attack on a children’s hospital in Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital.
The attack, which occurred on Monday morning, reportedly claimed 31 lives, according to news agency AFP.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attack on social media platform X, stating, “Russian terrorists once again massively attacked Ukraine with missiles. Different cities: Kyiv, Dnipro, Kryvyi Rig, Sloviansk, Kramatorsk.” He added, “More than 40 missiles of various types. Residential buildings, infrastructure, and a children’s hospital were damaged.”
However, the Russian defense ministry denied these allegations. A statement from the Russian Ministry of Defence read, “Statements from representatives of the Kiev regime about an alleged deliberate missile strike by Russia on civilian targets are absolutely untrue.” The statement further claimed, “Numerous published photos and videos from Kiev unequivocally confirm the destruction caused by the fall of a Ukrainian air defense missile.”
In her on-court interview after the match, Svitolina expressed her sorrow, saying, “It’s a very difficult day today for all Ukrainian people.” She added, “It was not easy to focus on the match. Since this morning, it has been very difficult to read the news and go on court. So I was happy to play today and get the win. It was a good performance from my side. Thanks to everyone for their support.”
Svitolina, a two-time Wimbledon semifinalist, will next face Elena Rybakina, who was born in Russia but represents Kazakhstan and won Wimbledon in 2022, in the quarter-final.
