Sawt Falasteen - Ukraine badminton star: 'How can you feel normal when bombs are falling?'

Buhrova and her playing partner Yevheniia Kantemyr are now based in Italy, far from their families and the war with Russia, as they attempt to focus on their careers.

The pair went down in the first round of the women's doubles at the world championships in New Delhi on Monday, but their mission goes beyond results.

"Our country supports us a lot and we are really pleased and thankful for that," the 22-year-old Buhrova said.

"We are just trying to show our best and show that we are here, and Ukraine is still fighting, and this is the main goal."

Russia invaded Ukraine in early 2022. More than four years on, as casualties mount on both sides, frontline fighting has ground to a near-standstill and talks are frozen.

The two sides have significantly stepped up long-range attacks deep behind each other's lines, pushing the civilian death toll to its highest levels since the war's first months.

Buhrova and Kantemyr fear for their families back home.

"The situation is quite bad there, so we don't live there now because it's impossible to manage," the 21-year-old Kantemyr said.

"It's not easy for us to be like this outside of the country without our families and so on."

Buhrova, who was born in Ukraine's northeastern Kharkiv region, said that trying to stay focused on badminton was hard.

"How can you feel normal when bombs and drones are falling down on your head?" she said.

"But we must focus on our job and show that Ukraine is still strong as a nation and everything is going well."

- 'Big mistake' -

Buhrova and Kantemyr will also play singles matches at the championships in the Indian capital.

There are also the Russian men's doubles pair of Rodion Alimov and Maksim Ogloblin.

They must play under a neutral flag because of their country's invasion of Ukraine.

Some sports and the International Olympic Committee have in recent months begun easing restrictions on Russians, to the annoyance of Ukraine.

Buhrova is against the participation of Russians altogether, flag or no flag.

"I think it's very bad," she said of the apparent softening of attitudes in some quarters.

"I absolutely don't support this decision and I think it's a big mistake."

F.AbuShamala--SF-PST