“Three military shifts” Sergiy Stakhovsky retails his frontline story on Spotify Podcast
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Sergiy Stakhovsky on tennis podcast
Former World No. 31, Sergiy Stakhovsky has left his tennis racquet behind and has taken in hand a machine gun to protect his family and his homeland from the Russian Invasion. This year, after the Australian Open, the Ukrainian had planned on retiring after spending 20 years of his life on tour to spend more time with his wife and children.
Never did the 36-year old ever imagine that as soon as he would lay down his tennis racquet, he would pick up an army weapon. In accordance with the Russia-Ukraine war, Stakhovsky though does not have a clean reputation, said ‘Surrendering Not An Option’.
On March 6, 4-time ATP title holder Sergiy Stakhovsky joined Sergio Tacchini in his podcast ‘The Craig Shapiro Tennis Podcast‘ after dropping off his family in Hungary, then returning to the Ukrainian army and after completing his third shift in Kyiv.
Sergiy Stakhovsky says “High Spirit” in the Ukrainian Army
He started off by stating his reason to stay back in Kyiv. “Essentially I have my parents here, my brother, father here. The nation is united by the common enemy. Everybody is willing fight.” He further said, “It’s the same routine day in and day out; you don’t know when the strike is gonna start, but they have been trying to get into the city for days now because the morale isn’t high. They fight, and they fight which nobody believes that they can win.”
“But they have the regimens which are much professional like. They are well trained. They came to destroy and kill,” said the 36-year old tennis player. He spoke about some Ukrainian athletes he came across while protecting his homeland. “Lot of sports people are active.”
Sergiy Stakhovsky talks about Politics and Policies
When asked, how did your life turn upside down, the Ukrainian replied “Russia did turn it upside down; Russia raided Ukraine, they didn’t give much of a choice. I could have stayed out. I could have stayed home with kids and looked from outside at everything that’s going on. It’s my city. I was born in here. I am from Ukraine. My grandparents and great-grandparents are buried in there. I would very much like to have the history to come back and for everyone to leave.”
He also talks about how president Zelensky has managed the situation with a lot of expertise and courage. He also mentions that the sanctions made on Russia have been effective.“We don’t have enough ships, and even if Europe is gonna provide us with fighter jets, we don’t have enough pilots. That’s a fact,” says Stakhovsky on Ukraine’s military situation.
“They’re shelling civilian sectors. They level the civilian buildings to the ground with tanks deliberately. They’re killing the volunteers. It’s a nightmare that’s going on.” He ended the podcast by saying, “I want them to help us to stop this. I want them ( Russia ) to leave us alone. We just need them to go home.”
Also Read: “Ukraine is grateful” Sergiy Stakhovsky thanks Novak Djokovic for his concern and support
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Varsha Srikumar
(135 Articles Published)