Ukraine-Russia war: Engaged in the reserve, Sergiy Stakhovsky will take up arms

He is one of many Ukrainians currently living through a nightmare. Like his colleague and compatriot Elina Svitolina, Sergiy Stakhovsky, 240th in the world, has been communicating a lot in recent days on social networks about his support for his country, Ukraine, which is currently trying to resist the Russian invasion. Contacted by the British channel Sky Sports on Saturday, Roger Federer’s faller at Wimbledon in 2013 spoke about this dramatic news and said he was ready to help his people on the ground.

Currently in Hungary to bring his wife and children to safety, the 36-year-old plans to return to the front, responding to the call of its president Volodymyr Zelensky. “Of course I intend to fight, that’s the only reason I’m trying to come back. I signed up for the reserve army, I just haven’t provided enough documents to sign the contract yet. I have no military experience, but I have used a weapon before“, he said facing the camera, determined but visibly very touched.

Stakhovsky has what it takes personally. Beyond his great attachment to his country, he has family there. If he follows the evolution of the situation like everyone else thanks to the media, he has a more precise idea of ​​life in Ukraine thanks to his contacts. “My father and my brother are surgeons, they are stressed, but I talk to them often. They’re sleeping in the basement right now (to protect themselves from the bombardments, Editor’s note)”, he further explained.

Like other athletes before him, he finally appealed for help, without however hoping for much. “It makes a big difference for our armed forces to know that they are not alone, at least in terms of the media. But let’s be real, we’ve been in conflict with Russia for 8 years, and who cared? None of us believed it could happen, and yet it did. No European or world leader is ready to help, to engage in the fight in Ukraine perhaps for a better Europe in the future. We will resist. But let’s be realistic, Russia is a country of 140 million people stretching from Europe to Alaska, it will be very hard to resist for a long time.”