Olympic champion Liliya Podkopaieva told Marichka Padalko that not all gold medalists from our country maintain contact with Ukraine. She mentioned Yana Klochkova, who is not in Ukraine, and noted that their communication stopped even before the war.
“Six years ago I wished her a happy birthday and suddenly noticed that she was removed from my friends on Facebook. Then she added me again. But that was all. I want Ukrainians to have a positive attitude towards Ukraine. However, we cannot influence thoughts and switch them,” Podkopaieva explained.
Liliya Podkopaieva also expressed a desire to return to the occupied territories, in particular to Donetsk, and reported that she discussed this possibility with the head of the Border Service.
In her interview, Liliya also talked about her childhood in a Russian-speaking environment in Donetsk. She recalled a meeting with her biological father, who is Russian, and explained why her upbringing took place in a Russian-speaking atmosphere.