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Ukraine Athletes In Paris As War Continues

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News

PARIS/KYIV/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Ukrainian athletes are participating in the Summer Olympics while leaving behind a nation in turmoil.

For Ukrainian athletes at the Paris Olympics, joy is mixed with sorrow.

Athletes strive to enjoy the dream of competing at one of the world’s most prestigious sports events.

But they have told journalists they also realize they represent a war-torn nation where hundreds of thousands of people have been killed or injured

With men fighting at the front lines, Ukraine will be represented by the smallest number of athletes participating in the Summer Games, with 140 competitors in 26 sports. The most are in athletics, at 25, while there’s just one—Buhrova—in badminton.

The Olympic Village’s living accommodations for athletes from around the world are adorned with flags and slogans.

The Ukrainian house features children’s drawings with messages like: “The resilient do not give up and strive for victory” and “Glory to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.”

MOUNTING DEATH TOLL

These drawings, a tradition to support Ukrainian soldiers on the frontline, have extended to cheering for their athletes.

Yet, with the death toll mounting, pressure has been increasing on both Ukraine and Russia to agree on a ceasefire and peace deal to end a war that is now lasting for more than two years.

Yet a top adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said inking an agreement with Russia to stop the war with Ukraine would amount to signing a deal with the devil.

Mykhailo Podolyak said a deal would only buy Russian President Vladimir Putin time to strengthen his army and usher in another potentially more violent chapter in the war.

With no peace deal in sight, clashes continue, with Kyiv saying Ukrainian missile forces hit a Russian military airfield in the Crimea peninsula that had been used for long-range attacks.

There was no immediate comment from Russia’s defense ministry or local Moscow-installed officials.

Ukraine claims to have struck a string of Russian air defense systems deployed in Crimea, such as S-300 and S-400 units, in recent months.

PRISON TERMS

However, the latest attacks were not believed to have caused severe casualties.

Additionally, Russia issued sentences of up to 22 years to a string of people convicted of treason and “terrorism” charges linked to Moscow’s offensive in Ukraine.

Also, two men were convicted in separate cases of trying to join the Freedom of Russia Legion, a unit of pro-Kyiv fighters.

The unit includes Russian citizens and has made armed border incursions into Russian territory throughout the war.

It suggested that the armed conflict will continueunless a peace deal is signed.