Former Ukrainian Biathlete Moves to Russia to Work for a Military Figure

Yuliia Zhuravok's Move to Russia

According to Главком: Yuliia Zhuravok, a former Ukrainian biathlete, has relocated to Russia and now works as an instructor at the ski club 'Katay Tekhnichno,' which was founded by Russian military serviceman Yevgeny Lysak. Born in Anzhero-Sudzhensk, Zhuravok began her biathlon career representing Ukraine's national team starting in 2011. At the junior level, she became a two-time world champion: in the relay in 2012 and in the individual event in 2015. Her best personal result in the World Cup was 10th place in the individual race in Östersund in 2016.

In early July 2026, the 'Katay Tekhnichno' club introduced Zhuravok as a new staff member. Her move to Russia may have been facilitated by Olha Abramova, a former Ukrainian national team biathlete and wife of Tymofii Lapshyn. Despite her sporting successes, Zhuravok took a career break in 2020 due to maternity leave, and by the end of 2022, it was announced that she had ended her athletic career.

Yuliia Zhuravok's Statements and Vita Semerenko's Memories

Yuliia Zhuravok shared her feelings about her choice, stating:

“I made my decision consciously and have no regrets. Today, I am where I am valued, where my experience and knowledge are needed.”

She also emphasized that she devoted 15 years of her life to biathlon and, although she did not achieve everything she dreamed of, that does not diminish her journey.

In the context of the war in Ukraine, the destroyed home of Vita Semerenko's parents in Krasnopillia has become a symbol of the losses the country is enduring. Vita Semerenko, a prominent Ukrainian biathlete, recalled her hometown, which was reduced to rubble by a Russian airstrike.

“Today, Russian KABs have turned it into ruins. They can destroy walls, but they cannot destroy my memories, the path I have walked, or the love for my native Krasnopillia.”

Thus, the story of Yuliia Zhuravok and the destruction of Vita Semerenko's family home highlight the complex circumstances facing Ukraine's sports community. Zhuravok's move to Russia may be seen as a reflection of personal choices in the face of challenging socio-political conditions, while Semerenko's memories of her hometown serve as a reminder of the deep wounds inflicted by the war. These events illustrate not only the individual fates of athletes but also the broader context of loss and challenges that Ukraine confronts during this difficult period.