Elizabeth Shevchenko, a young Ukrainian judoka, is one of many victims of the brutality and violence inflicted by Russia on Ukrainian athletes. Her story, which unfolded in the Chernihiv region, is a stark testament to the atrocities endured by innocent civilians during Russia’s aggression.
Elizabeth survived 27 days of hell, imprisoned by Russian forces under inhumane conditions. She endured unimaginable suffering and was forced to witness her uncle’s execution, shot dead before her eyes. Her father was also abducted by Russian soldiers. During this harrowing period, Elizabeth, along with over 300 others—including 60 children—was confined in a cellar with no electricity, water, or food. Crowded and suffocating, some died from asphyxiation.
She has not seen her father since his abduction and does not know if he is still alive.
Freed in March 2022 by the Ukrainian army, Elizabeth continues to bear the scars of these horrific experiences. Despite this, she has shown extraordinary resilience. Determined to overcome the horror she endured, she returned to her judo training with renewed strength. Her courage and determination led her to win the national championship, and she now dreams of competing in the Olympic Games.
🚨 These are the conditions in which Ukrainian athletes train.
As long as Russian bombs continue to rain down on Ukraine, Russian and Belarusian athletes should not be allowed to participate in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. We cannot allow Russia to turn #Paris2024 into the Blood Games. The war crimes committed by Russia must be punished, and the international community must stand with victims like Elizabeth by offering them support and justice.
#BloodGames2024
For more details on Elizabeth’s testimony, you can read the full article in L’Équipe [here].
