Ukrainian makes impassioned speech after facing Russian

Ukraine's Oleksandra Oliynykova says she cannot "stay silent" while "people are being killed" as she continued to heavily criticise Russian tennis players for not denouncing the war in her country.

Oliynykova, 25, played Russia's Diana Shnaider in the French Open third round on Saturday and spoke negatively about her opponent before the match.

After losing 7-5 6-1 in Paris, an emotional Oliynykova started her news conference by reading out a strongly worded prepared statement from her phone.

"I know that some people would prefer that I stay silent. But what I do is not about politics, it's about humanity," she said.

"When people are being killed, while children are dying, when violence is justified or celebrated, we cannot pretend that nothing is happening.

"We cannot look away. We cannot protect those who support or excuse such actions."

Before the match, Oliynykova accused Shnaider of supporting Russian president Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine.

Oliynykova's accusation is largely based on Shnaider playing in a St Petersburg exhibition event sponsored by Gazprom - the state-owned Russian gas company.

"I think it's the same as playing in Nazi Germany for Gestapo officers, on the tournament organised by company which built Auschwitz. There is no difference for me," Oliynykova said earlier this week.

Following a match played in a tense atmosphere, Shnaider refused to speak about the war or her feelings towards it - saying she "wasn't interested" in what her opponent had said before their match - but defended her decision to play in Russia.

"I'm travelling all year round," she said. "I'm not seeing my family or my friends, and I have the only one opportunity to play in front of my family, in front of my friends, just to spend a little more time at home."

In her first season on the WTA Tour, Oliynykova has emerged as the strongest Ukrainian voice advocating for Russia to end the war.

Russia invaded Ukraine - in what Putin called a "special military operation" - in February 2022 and has been supported by its ally Belarus.

Oliynykova had no electricity or water in her Kyiv apartment as she trained for the Australian Open in January. Both her father and her boyfriend are serving soldiers.

"If I am going to be silent, I don't understand what I'm doing here. How could I? If I don't try to do everything to help Ukraine to win this war, my life would be destroyed," Oliynykova said.

"The people I love, they would be killed. I will be killed. I don't see any other option for me."

At the Australian Open this year, Oliynykova was critical of leading Russian and Belarusian players - including Grand Slam champions Daniil Medvedev and Aryna Sabalenka - for not speaking out against their nation's regimes.

Medvedev also competed at the annual Northern Palmyra Trophies, which is backed by Gazprom, in November.

Oliynykova has persistently demanded the WTA Tour take action against players who take part, claiming again on Friday the tour was hypocritical for not sanctioning them.

The WTA said it had remained "unequivocal" in condemning Russia's war on Ukraine, but added it was an "extraordinarily sensitive situation".

"All WTA athletes have the right to express themselves. At the same time, the WTA is committed to maintaining a professional and respectful environment for all athletes, regardless of nationality or country of origin," the governing body added.

Oliynykova said all Ukrainian players - most notably two-time Wimbledon semi-finalist Elina Svitolina and recent Madrid Open champion Marta Kostyuk - have "absolute solidarity" with her actions.

The Ukrainians continue to refuse to shake hands with Russian opponents after matches.

Kostyuk, who described last week how a drone hit a building 100m away from her family home in Kyiv, previously told BBC Sport she did not feel "any compassion" from Russian players.

"The Russian players, let's be real, they don't want to communicate," Oliynykova added.

"They have these horrible beliefs. That's what we have right now on tour. For me this is something what I think we need to stop to accept in the professional sports."

Security on the small outdoor court had been increased specifically for the match, with extra officers providing a striking presence around the stands.

Oliynykova was backed by a large contingent of Ukrainians - plus many French fans sympathetic to her cause - and stood in the middle of the court after the match to thank them for their support.

She made heart signs and clasped her hands together in appreciation, while avoiding eye contact with Shnaider.

Both players spent several minutes signing autographs near the umpire's chair.

Shnaider and Oliynykova both said they did not notice the increased security.

Oliynykova added: "I don't feel like I need security.

"The people who are coming here [only] have intentions just to watch the match. To think that something can happen is really low.

"When I will come home, I will lay under the bombs."