In her first season on the WTA Tour, Oliynykova has emerged as the strongest Ukrainian voice advocating for Russia to end the war.
Russia invaded Ukraine – in what Putin called a “special military operation” – in February 2022 and has been supported by its ally Belarus.
Oliynykova had no electricity or water in her Kyiv apartment as she trained for the Australian Open in January. Both her father and her boyfriend are serving soldiers.
“If I am going to be silent, I don’t understand what I’m doing here. How could I? If I don’t try to do everything to help Ukraine to win this war, my life would be destroyed,” Oliynykova said.
“The people I love, they would be killed. I will be killed. I don’t see any other option for me.”
At the Australian Open this year, Oliynykova was critical of leading Russian and Belarusian players – including Grand Slam champions Daniil Medvedev and Aryna Sabalenka – for not speaking out against their nation’s regimes.
Medvedev also competed at the annual Northern Palmyra Trophies, which is backed by Gazprom, in November.
Oliynykova has persistently demanded the WTA Tour take action against players who take part, claiming again on Friday the tour was hypocritical for not sanctioning them.
The WTA said it had remained “unequivocal” in condemning Russia’s war on Ukraine, but added it was an “extraordinarily sensitive situation”.
“All WTA athletes have the right to express themselves. At the same time, the WTA is committed to maintaining a professional and respectful environment for all athletes, regardless of nationality or country of origin,” the governing body added.
