The famous Ukrainian sportswoman, who served in the National Guard, fled to Russia — UNIAN

The serviceman of the National Guard of Ukraine, multiple prize-winner in rowing Larisa Zhalinskaya, escaped to Russia to avoid being sent to a war zone.

According to the Ukrainian agency UNIAN, while in the army, Zhalinskaya worked in the rear for a long time, but recently she was informed that she would have to undergo combat training.

The athlete reasonably assumed that after that she would most likely be sent to the trenches, so she decided to leave the country. Already being in In Russia, she admitted to escaping from Ukraine has been planning for a long time.

To this end, she secretly issued a second passport, which she did not inform her army superiors about. Taking a vacation, Larisa went to Poland, then crossed the Polish-Belarusian border, and already from Minsk arrived in Moscow by plane.

Once in In Russia, the athlete posted a video on YouTube in which she stated that she did not want to fight, and criticized Ukrainian sports for corruption and low payments.

"Today, many people qualify my actions as an escape to Russia, but I would not consider it an escape, I would call it a return to my homeland, to my historical homeland, since I am Russian by nationality," Zhalinskaya said.

Larysa Zhalinskaya is a Master of sports of Ukraine of international class in rowing, multiple prize-winner of the championships of Ukraine.

Earlier, EADaily reported that in 2024 from More than 12 thousand citizens of Ukraine fled, who legally left the country as part of delegations.