Elina Svitolina has shared a series of striking images on social media of her holding a rocket launcher and firing a machine gun on her return to Ukraine.
The world No 23 has been one of the most high-profile Ukrainian athletes to use her platform to speak out about the fight with Russia in her home country.
She has once again returned to Ukraine in the break before the new season gets underway in Australia.
Svitolina shared a post on social media with several photos of herself wearing a camouflage jacket and holding a rocket launcher as well as a heavy machine gun.
Her caption read: “Kharkiv has a special place in my heart.
Elina Svitolina is back in Ukraine
“The city that gave the feeling of real home when I started my professional career here at 12 years old.
“The city that continues to provide warmth and protection during the great war.
“If you ask me, where do I find the motivation to fight in sports arenas? This is my country, my people, my Kharkiv and our heroes.”
The 30-year-old – who is married to Gael Monfils – broke down in tears at this year’s Wimbledon after learning of a major missile strike on the Ukraine capital Kyiv.
Svitolina played with a black ribbon on her top throughout her fourth-round match against Xinyu Wang and won 6-2, 6-1.
But it was clear that the news of at least 20 Ukrainians being killed from the missile attack weighed heavily on her mind in the match.
“It’s a very difficult day today for Ukrainian people,” she said on her on-court interview.
Svitolina then took a pause to recompose herself before adding: “It was not easy to focus on the match.
“Since the morning, it’s very difficult to read the news, just to go on the court… I’m happy I could play today and get a win.”
Elina Svitolina also posed operating a heavy machine gun
“Yeah, it’s incredibly sad day today for all Ukrainians.
“It was really difficult for me to really be here in a way and do anything.
“I just wanted to be in my room, just be there with my emotions, with everything.
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Elina Svitolina has been vocal about the war in her country
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“You know, when you have these sad days where you don’t want to do anything, it was this kind of day for me. It’s difficult really to explain, I guess, because of course for us Ukrainians, it’s very close to our heart and very sensitive topic, very sensitive emotions that we feel every single day.
“But today was one of the days where it was even more difficult because the missile landed on the hospital, the kids’ hospital.
“Straightaway you see the images and everything that happened there. So many kids lost their lives. Yeah, it’s extremely tough day today.”
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