Marta Kostyuk, Ukraine's newly minted French Open semi-finalist, has strongly criticized her Russian tennis opponents for remaining silent on the war, stating that their silence makes clear 'whose side they are on'. The comments came after a night of drone and missile attacks on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities that killed at least 23 people.
Kostyuk's Emotional Tribute to Ukraine
After defeating her compatriot Elina Svitolina, Kostyuk said: 'I want to start with this historical match that we played today with Elina. 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.' She added: '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.'
Criticism of Russian Opponents
When asked about Russian rivals such as Diana Shnaider and her upcoming semi-final opponent, Mirra Andreeva, who have previously stated they focus only on tennis and avoid political discussions, Kostyuk did not hold back. '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,' she 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 publicly spoke 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.'
Deadly Attacks and Air Defence Shortages
The deadly attacks on Ukraine on Tuesday highlight Russia's exploitation of a global shortage of air defence interceptor missiles, according to Peter Beaumont. The MIM-104 Patriot missile system, widely used by US allies and Ukraine, is in dwindling supply due to demand from the US-Israeli campaign against Iran. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has reiterated his plea to the US for more interceptor stocks. The Patriot missile shortage has created a 'window of vulnerability' that Russia is exploiting in Ukraine.
Zelenskyy Warns of Further Attacks
Zelenskyy said there was evidence Russian forces could strike again overnight. '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 on Monday night, with Russian forces following up with 100 more drones throughout Tuesday.
Russian Regions Also Under Attack
Russian regions also came under attack. The Ilsky oil refinery in the southern Krasnodar region caught fire after a drone attack, according to Russian authorities and Ukraine's military. Moscow air defence units destroyed eight Ukrainian drones in the hours leading up to midnight on Tuesday, said Moscow's mayor, Sergei Sobyanin.
Evacuations in Kharkiv Region
Officials in the eastern Ukrainian region of Kharkiv, bordering Russia, ordered the mandatory evacuation of civilians from seven towns and villages on Tuesday, 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.
Hungary's New PM Ready to Meet Zelenskyy
Hungary's 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.
