Key Takeaways
- Elina Svitolina confirmed that her Kyiv sports venue, SVITO Padel Club, was damaged during a Russian strike.
- The world No. 9 shared grim figures regarding the war’s toll, noting that “776 Ukrainian athletes and members of the sports community have been killed as a result of Russian aggression.”
- Svitolina urged global allies for “concrete actions that could help stop the aggressor” as local competitors struggle without proper training conditions.
Russian attack damages capital sports facility
Ukrainian tennis star Elina Svitolina announced on Tuesday that her Kyiv padel club sustained damage during a Russian attack on the capital. The facility, named SVITO Padel Club, was established jointly by Svitolina and former Ukrainian professional player Sergiy Stakhovsky, welcoming visitors for the first time last May with seven covered courts.
Taking to Instagram to show the aftermath, the world No. 9 displayed photos detailing the destruction while highlighting the severe toll the war continues to take across the nation’s sporting landscape.
Comparison table
| Entry | Value |
|---|---|
| 23 | 00 |
| 00 | 30 |
| 20 | 00 |
| 21 | 30 |
| 17 | 30 |
“To date, 776 Ukrainian athletes and members of the sports community have been killed as a result of Russian aggression. 942 sports facilities across Ukraine have been damaged or completely destroyed. Today, my club, Svito Padel, became one of them,” she wrote.
Plea for international backing and concrete action
The 31-year-old explained that the constant destruction creates steep obstacles for competitors trying to keep their careers alive at home. Pointing to the stark inequality faced by the next generation, she voiced her deep concern for Ukrainian talent attempting to compete with the rest of the world.
“Ukrainian athletes and our young generation have no opportunity to train and prepare for international competitions in the same conditions as athletes from other countries,” she lamented.
Svitolina concluded her statement by turning directly to allies across the globe, calling on sports leaders and partners to step up their assistance.
“With this message, I want to reach out to our international partners and friends who support and encourage us, the Ukrainian athletes, on the international stage, and ask for your support as well as concrete actions that could help stop the aggressor,” she added.
Elina Svitolina in 2026
Currently the world no.9, Svitolina played her last match on the 4th of September when she capitulated to world no.23 Anna Kalinskaya 6-3 2-6 6-3 in the 3rd round of the U.S. Open (draw).
Currently, during this year Svitolina has managed to achieve a compiled 44-13 record. Svitolina conquered 2 titles in 2026 in Auckland and Rome.
