‘You hear a missile whistle and run’: Ukrainian volleyball player shows shocking training video

The beach volleyball player shared a video showing Ukrainian athletes training during Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine.

“Ukrainian athletes are running from drones, knowing that every training session could be our last. Meanwhile, Russian athletes continue to be welcomed on the world stage.

“This is how the Ukrainian national team trains. This footage was taken this afternoon,” the video says.

Against the backdrop of Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities, Khmil sharply criticized the European Volleyball Confederation, or CEV, for allowing Russia to return to international competitions.

“You’re playing, and suddenly you hear the whistle of a missile flying toward you. You run for your life and just hope that neither you, your friends nor anyone nearby gets hurt.

“A minute later, you pull yourself together and return to training. Your body is still shaking, you’re still in shock, but you keep going. And it happens over and over again, day and night.

“How the hell did this become the ‘new normal’?

“And how are we supposed to simply accept that athletes from the terrorist state responsible for this will soon be standing on the other side of the net as if nothing happened?” Khmil wrote.

In July, the International Volleyball Federation allowed Russian athletes to compete. The European Volleyball Confederation has now decided to allow Russia’s men’s and women’s national teams to participate in competitions.

In 2021, the Ukrainian duo of Anhelina Khmil and Tetiana Lazarenko won the under-21 beach volleyball world championship.

Earlier, European rhythmic gymnastics champion Viktoriia Onopriienko was caught in a Russian attack on Kyiv.