Ukraine athletes defend country, demand sanctions for Russia

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Earlier this month, Ukrainian skeleton rider Vladyslav Heraskevych flashed a sign at the Olympics: "No war in Ukraine." On Sunday, he was hunkered down about 150 kilometers (93 miles) outside of his nation's capital with weapons nearby in case he needs to defend his country.

"I am a student," the 23-year-old said in a phone interview with The Associated Press. "I am not experienced in these type of things. But I am ready to stand strong and help in any way I can."

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With Russian troops encircling the capital of Kyiv, Heraskevych was among some four dozen athletes from Ukraine and elsewhere who sent an open letter to Olympic and Paralympic leaders, urging them to immediately suspend the Russian and Belarusian Olympic and Paralympic Committees.

"Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, supported by Belarus, is a clear breach of the Olympic and Paralympic Charters — a breach that must be met with strong sanctions," said the letter addressed to IOC President Thomas Bach and his counterpart on the International Paralympic Committee, Andrew Parsons.

FILE - In this frame from video, Vladyslav Heraskevych, of Ukraine, holds a sign that reads "No War in Ukraine" after finishing a run at the men's skeleton competition at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Friday, Feb. 11, 2022, in the Yanqing district of Beijing. (NBC via AP, File)

The letter said more Ukrainians would have signed the letter but "it has been a challenge to speak with all athletes from Ukraine as they are seeking safety in bomb shelters."

The advocacy group Global Athlete helped coordinate the letter, which also was signed by sliders from the U.S., Latvia