Odesa Missile Strike
Tennis Player Dayana Yastremska Reports Family Apartment Destroyed in Odesa Strike
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Key Points
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Yastremska, 26, was ranked No. 113 in the world at the time and had most recently lost in the first round of the U.S. Open in New York.
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In her post, Yastremska described the apartment as belonging to “OUR FAMILY” and said the strike showed what the “‘Russian world’ looks like,” adding that it was a direct hit by a Kalibr missile.
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Video shared by Yastremska reportedly showed the completely destroyed 22nd floor of the high-rise where the family apartment was located.
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The incident prompted messages of support from tennis fans, while another Ukrainian player, Elina Svitolina, said during the U.S. Open that her padel club in Kyiv had also been severely damaged in a Russian attack.
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The attack was reported in the wider context of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which began in February 2022; Ukrainian players generally refuse to shake hands with Russian opponents after matches, according to the reports.
Ukrainian tennis player Dayana Yastremska reported that a Russian missile strike destroyed her family's apartment in Odesa, with video showing the 22nd floor of the high-rise completely gutted by flames. The Sun reported that the 26-year-old, ranked No. 113 in the world, identified the weapon as a Kalibr cruise missile and said a Roland Garros towel was the only item that survived the direct hit.
The broader attack on Odesa and nearby Chornomorsk injured dozens of people, including an infant, according to Kyiv Independent. Yastremska used the destruction as a platform to urge the WTA and ITF to reconsider their policies allowing Russian players to compete under neutral status, calling the rubble a stark reminder of what ordinary Ukrainians face daily.
A Symbol of Survival Amid Destruction
Yastremska described the apartment as belonging to her entire family and said the strike showed what the "'Russian world' looks like," Yahoo reported. The stark contrast between total devastation and one remaining towel — a memento from tennis's most prestigious tournaments — became her symbol of resilience. She shared the towel image across social media, emphasizing that while her home vanished, the spirit of tennis endured.
Tennis Community Rallies as Attacks Continue
Messages of support flooded in from tennis fans worldwide following Yastremska's posts. Fellow Ukrainian player Elina Svitolina revealed that her padel club in Kyiv had also been severely damaged in a separate Russian attack during the U.S. Open. Tennis Temple noted that Yastremska, a former No. 21-ranked player, had just lost in the first round of the U.S. Open in New York before learning of her home's destruction.
Ukrainian Athletes Call Out Tennis Governing Bodies
Yastremska's plea to the WTA and ITF highlighted a growing divide in professional tennis. Ukrainian players generally refuse to shake hands with Russian opponents after matches, reflecting the broader conflict that began in February 2022. Star-Telegram reported that Yastremska's demand for policy change came as Russian attacks on civilian infrastructure intensified, making the neutrality debate feel increasingly distant from the reality on the ground in Ukraine.
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