Ukrainian Tennis Star Dayana Yastremska’s Home Destroyed in Russian Strike; Slams WTA and ITF ‘Neutrality

Dajana Jastremska’s Odesa Apartment Destroyed in Missile Strike

The 26-year-old athlete shared photos and videos on Instagram showing a heavily damaged, burning building following the strike, which involved a Kalibr cruise missile.

“This is what the ‘Russian world’ looks like: A direct hit from a Kalibr cruise missile,” Jastremska wrote on social media. The only item salvaged from her home was a towel from Roland Garros at the French Open. “A piece of the tennis world survived a Russian rocket. Our home didn’t,” she added.

Direct Appeal Targets WTA and ITF Neutrality Policies

Following the destruction of her home, Jastremska directed a public appeal at the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) and the International Tennis Federation (ITF).

“Look at these pictures through our eyes. This is the true meaning of your ‘neutrality’ — from a Ukrainian perspective,” she stated. Under current rules, Russian and Belarusian players are permitted to compete in international tournaments under a neutral status, while Ukrainian players generally forgo post-match handshakes with opponents from those nations.

Heavy Overnight Bombardment Strikes Odesa and Chornomorsk

The wider Odesa region and other parts of Ukraine suffered heavy bombardment overnight. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported on social media that a residential building in Odesa was damaged in a missile strike, leaving 37 people injured while search operations for two missing individuals continued. In the nearby port city of Chornomorsk, a drone strike damaged a hotel and injured 11 people.

War Takes Heavy Toll on Ukrainian Tennis Infrastructure

The strike on Jastremska’s apartment follows a series of war-related disruptions affecting Ukrainian tennis figures. During the recent US Open in New York, where Jastremska competed and exited in the first round, fellow Ukrainian player Elina Switolina reported that her Padel club in Kyiv had sustained severe damage from the consequences of a Russian attack.

Jastremska, currently ranked No. 113 in the WTA singles rankings, has continued her professional schedule while managing the ongoing impacts of the war, which escalated following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.