Stakhovsky: For us, the only option is for Russia to fall apart, either from within, or someone to help it

Former first racket of Ukraine, and now a soldier of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and a volunteer Sergei Stakhovsky spoke about his service in the lavas of the National Guard and the losses of the Ukrainian army.

“I was in Bakhmut for three weeks in December, I was stationed with the fourth rapid reaction brigade. Tasks are different. For the most part, they pass along the line of demarcation. There are tasks of working with a mortar, tasks of escorting prisoners … This is a very brutal war. It takes a lot of lives, unfortunately. Them [россиян] we don’t think, because it’s not interesting, but ours… it’s sad, it’s difficult. Every day it is impossible to transfer these losses. For every family, they lose the whole world, the whole earth under their feet,” Stakhovsky said.

“The fact that we celebrated the New Year as a free country is a victory. Because against us is a huge country with a huge human resource, which she does not regret at all. Which she throws just like meat on a fire. It has to be taken that way. Of course, our goal is to reach our [государственные] borders and throw out the Russians. For us, the only option is for Russia to fall apart, either from within, or someone to help it.”

Stakhovsky announced his retirement from professional career in January 2022. At the ATP level, Sergey won four titles in singles and four in doubles. The best result in the ATP ranking for a Ukrainian remains 31st in September 2010.

Early on the morning of February 24, Russia launched rocket and air strikes on most Ukrainian cities and then launched a full-scale military invasion. The war of the Russian Federation against Ukraine has been going on for the 335th day.