**Title: Only Roland Garros Towel Left, Says Ukrainian Tennis Player After Russian Strike Hits Flat**
Ukrainian tennis player Dayana Yastremska has reported the destruction of her family's apartment in Odesa following a Russian missile strike. The attack, which occurred on Friday night, involved a Kalibr cruise missile that struck the Black Sea port city, causing significant damage and injuries.
In a poignant social media post, Yastremska shared an image of the aftermath, highlighting the devastation of a multi-storey residential building engulfed in flames. "This is what the 'Russian world' looks like. A direct hit by a Kalibr cruise missile," she wrote, emphasizing the impact of the attack on her home and community.
Among the wreckage, Yastremska noted that the only item to survive was a towel from the prestigious Roland Garros tournament, a symbol of her connection to the sport. "The only thing that survived was a Roland Garros... towel," she stated, posting a photo of the orange towel, which is emblematic of the French Open, hanging from the ruins of her apartment.
The regional head of Odesa, Oleh Kiper, reported that the missile and drone attack resulted in injuries to 37 individuals, including a baby, with two people still unaccounted for. This incident adds to the ongoing toll of the conflict, which has seen numerous Ukrainian athletes and their families affected by the violence since the full-scale invasion began in 2022.
Yastremska, currently ranked 113th in the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) singles rankings, expressed her grief and frustration over the loss of her home. "A Russian missile destroyed our apartment in Odesa... SYMBOLIC. A piece of world tennis survived a Russian missile. Our home did not," she wrote on Instagram. She called on the WTA and the International Tennis Federation (ITF) to recognize the situation faced by athletes in Ukraine, urging them to see the images through the eyes of those directly impacted by the conflict.
This incident is not isolated; other Ukrainian athletes have also reported damage to their homes due to the ongoing war. For instance, football player Heorhiy Sudakov previously shared that his apartment in Kyiv was severely damaged by a Russian drone strike while his family was inside.
As the conflict continues, the plight of Ukrainian athletes serves as a stark reminder of the broader humanitarian crisis unfolding in the region. The resilience of individuals like Yastremska, who continue to advocate for awareness and support, highlights the intersection of sports and social issues during times of war.