Latest news with #Svitlana
Sunday Post
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Sunday Post
From war to Wimbledon... Ukraine refugee all set for tennis glory
Get a weekly round-up of stories from The Sunday Post: Thank you for signing up to our Sunday Post newsletter. Something went wrong - please try again later. Sign Up Three years ago, Illia Snaksarov was hitting a ball off the wall of a Glasgow hotel with a tennis racquet. This summer he's playing at Wimbledon. The 13-year-old had arrived in Glasgow after his family fled their war-torn home following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Having travelled from their house in the town of Khmelnytskyi, in the region of Podolia, via Poland and London, Illia, mum Svitlana and dad Volodymyr arrived in Glasgow unsure where their future lay, waiting to be given a place to live. © Andrew Cawley Temporarily housed in a single hotel room surrounded by concrete between the M8 and the Broomielaw in Glasgow, thousands of miles from the familiarity of his family and friends in Ukraine, the opportunities for Illia to play outdoors were few. But the determined youngster found a way, taking his tennis racquet and ball to rally against himself, hitting shots off the wall round the side of the hotel. Now his tenacity and resilience have seen him fire an incredible ace – seeing off stiff competition to win a place at this summer's junior Wimbledon finals. Illia will follow in the footsteps of Ukrainian tennis legends like Elina Svitolina, Elena Baltacha and Andrei Medvedev by donning his whites to play on the most famous courts in tennis, at SW19. The teen will represent the West of Scotland at Play Your Way to Wimbledon, which gives players under 18 the chance to follow in their tennis heroes' footsteps. And mum and dad will be there to watch their son take his turn at the home of tennis. It's a long way from the days when Svitlana had to chastise her tennis-mad son for playing inside their family home, which has now been obliterated by the conflict. Speaking via a translator, Svitlana recalled how everything changed for the family in 2022. She said: 'There was a helicopter landing area close to our home and because of that there was a lot of shooting and fighting. We had to leave.' The family fled through Poland, eventually reaching the UK later that year, where they were processed to Glasgow as part of the government's response to the conflict. Illia's big break came when he was discovered by Lana MacKenzie, who was working as a translator at the hotel. A keen tennis player and member of the Western Club in the city, she offered to take him to the club to play tennis against other kids, rather than a wall. Illia's natural ability caught the eye of club coaches who gave him lessons and included him in the junior programme. Soon he was competing for Western in the West of Scotland inter-club leagues, landed a place in the West of Scotland squad and moved on to tournaments run by the game's governing body, the LTA. And this year he made it to the county finals of their Play Your Way to Wimbledon event, besting 60 other regional clubs. © Andrew Cawley The pupil of St Mungo's Academy in Glasgow's east end trains four times a week with dad Volodymyr on municipal courts at Queen's Park and Kelvingrove, as well as coaching sessions at Western, where next generation stars like Hamish Stewart – who narrowly missed a place at Wimbledon – also play. Illia and his parents now have a home in the Calton area of Glasgow. Volodymyr ran a grocery store in Ukraine. These days, as well as training Illia, he makes embroidered bracelets, which he sells at concerts and sporting events to raise funds for the war effort in Ukraine. He has now designed special bracelets based on the designs of each of the four tennis Grand Slam tournaments. Volodymyr, who has two sons from a previous marriage, one of whom is a soldier, the other a tennis coach, also ran junior tennis tournaments, having been inspired by watching Boris Yeltzen, former president of the Russian Federation, playing tennis on TV in the 1990s. Speaking via an interpreter, he said: 'I got excited about tennis from that point and started organising tournaments for kids to be involved in, taking a course in sewing in order to make tennis outfits for them.' Svitlana worked as a childminder in Ukraine and now volunteers in a charity shop while taking English classes at college. Illia, who speaks seven languages, said: 'It's been great to play at Western, because I didn't have anywhere to play, I didn't know any courts to go to. 'When I came here I started doing training sessions to work on my game. Then I started playing league matches after a couple of months.' His favourite player is Spanish former world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz. He said: 'He plays good, aggressive tennis, and has a balanced mentality in games. I have a good serve, and can play aggressive forehands.' Having fled the conflict and left their lives and work behind, tennis has given the family a new focus. Svitlana said: 'Our main goal in coming here was for Illia to be safe.' Volodymyr added: 'We are so grateful for the training sessions. 'It is so exciting, we are really happy about what's happening. It's such a good start and is a chance for him to respect what he can achieve. We are so grateful to the club for what they have given him.' © Andrew Cawley For Illia, his summer holidays will be spent preparing for Wimbledon. He said: 'I don't think that much about home now. In Ukraine I wasn't playing as good as I am here, I have improved a lot. The support they've given me is very good. 'I'm really excited about playing at Wimbledon. I would like to become a pro, and maybe one day play at Wimbledon as a senior, not just a junior.' Western coach Julie Gordon said: 'If you can see it, you can be it. Illia has been hitting with Hamish Stewart, who very nearly qualified for Wimbledon, so it's great for him to be around inspirational figures like that. 'There are lots of pathways to professional tennis, like scholarships, and these things are possibilities for Illia. And you have to have a dream.'
New York Post
16-06-2025
- Health
- New York Post
The best and worst underwear for your vagina — and the gross reasons you shouldn't wear thongs every day
We won't beat around the bush: When it comes to vaginal health, all underwear is not created equal. Certain styles and fabrics are better than others at keeping things clean and infection-free down below, according to Winx Health's medical adviser Dr. Carly Ross. And while thongs and G-strings are perfectly fine for occasionally avoiding visible panty lines, Dr. Ross told The Post there are some pretty gross reasons you should avoid using them every day. 3 Some underwear creates a healthier environment for vaginas than others. Svitlana – The best underwear for your vaginal health Breathe, baby, breathe. 'For everyday wear, sticking to simple, soft, cotton underwear is the healthiest choice,' Ross said. 'Look for underwear that's free from harsh dyes, synthetic fragrances, or chemical finishes. Underwear made from 100% cotton, especially in the crotch lining, helps keep moisture levels balanced.' She also recommends moisture-wicking natural fibers, 'as long as they're soft and allow airflow.' As for which cuts to pick, more coverage is generally going to be better for your bits. 'Styles like briefs, boyshorts or even high-waisted cuts tend to offer the most comfort and coverage without excessive friction,' Ross said. 'The most important factor isn't just the cut, but the fabric and fit. Underwear shouldn't be too tight or trap moisture, but it should allow your skin to breathe,' she noted. 3 Cotton underwear is best for moisture and airflow, while briefs and boyshorts are superior styles. Pixel-Shot – And the worst 'The worst style of underwear for vaginal health are tight-fitting thongs or synthetic lace underwear, especially when worn daily,' Ross said. 'Synthetic materials like nylon, polyester, or lace don't allow the skin to breathe and can trap heat and moisture, creating the perfect breeding ground for yeast and bacteria to grow,' she added. 'Lace and mesh can feel sexy, but they can cause friction and chafing, especially if worn for long periods of time,' Ross said. Plus, any fabrics treated with fragrances, dyes or chemical finishes can 'irritate sensitive vulvar skin and disrupt natural pH balance,' she noted. 3 Thongs are fine for occasional wear, but wearing them everyday can increase your risk of infection. Volodymyr – But are thongs really that bad? 'Thongs can definitely be a contributing factor to vaginal health issues like UTIs and yeast infections, especially if you live an active lifestyle,' said the doc. That close fit and friction can be a 'breeding ground' for bacteria — including E. coli from back there — which can be carried into the vagina or urethra and lead to urinary tract infections and yeast infections. That's especially true if you're wearing them for a long time or while exercising. 'Wearing them daily might not be the best choice for everyone,' she went on. 'That said, occasional thong use is generally fine if you're comfortable and not having any issues. But for everyday wear, especially during long or active days, a breathable, cotton-lined, fuller-coverage underwear is usually a healthier option for vulvar and vaginal health,' Ross said. 'Everyone's body is different, so the key is to pay attention to what feels right for you … Remember — it is fine to wear these styles occasionally but they're not the healthiest option for everyday use,' she added. A bonus hygiene tip 'Maintaining good hygiene habits is key to preventing infections,' Ross said. She recommends a vaginal probiotic like Winx Health's Vaginal Wellness Kit, which includes both a probiotic and a UTI protection supplement with ingredients like cranberry, D-mannose and vitamin C.
Irish Examiner
15-06-2025
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
'I just want him to be alive': Ukrainian mothers on Sherkin Island plead for end to Ukraine war
For Svitlana Babak February 15 was a day like any other… until a phone call alerted her to the tragic news: 'Your son has been killed by Russian forces.' Months on, she speaks through broken sobs as a translator tells her story. Living in the former Sherkin Island hotel - 2,000 miles away from her native Kharkiv - Svitlana is now the most homesick she has ever been. Her dream of returning to a safe Ukraine and having her whole family reunited has been crushed now that Oleksandr, the son who stayed behind to fight, will not be there to greet her. The closest thing to a reunion was at the military cemetery where Svitlana and other family members buried him some months ago. The sound of grief that day was punctuated by piercing air raid sirens - a painful reminder that nowhere in Ukraine is safe from Russian attack. Svitlana learned about her 44-year-old son's death while in her bedroom on Sherkin. News of the tragedy cast a dark shadow over an already overcast island. A recent 'We stand with Ukraine' event took place at the Sherkin House Ukrainian Centre and was organised by the facility's manager Alan McCormack and CEO of the Greater Chernobyl Cause charity Fiona Corcoran. Ambassador to Ireland, Larysa Gerasko was also in attendance, and spoke about her hopes for an end to the unrest. The ceremony concluded with a tree planting ceremony commemorating the loved ones of Sherkin residents who have died in Ukraine. Svitlana was among the 57 Ukrainian residents of Sherkin Island remembering friends and loved ones lost to the brutal war. Svitlana's daughter Alina and granddaughter Deana both live with her on the island. 'My son used to call me but he only had limited time to talk because he could never be sure who was listening,' she told the Irish Examiner. 'He usually just had time to say 'I'm alive' and that was it. "When he died it was the hardest time, especially when it came time to bury my son. Our manager is very supportive and there was a collection to help with the funeral. People gave their condolences and I can feel their support. They helped with permission so I could leave the country to attend the funeral. I want people to remember my son as happy. Oleksandr was known for his bravery. He saved the life of another soldier. There were crowds and crowds of people at his funeral. Every son loves their mother and every mother loves their son. We were no different. Svitlana shifts our gaze to the smiling picture of her son which is on a table close to the entrance of Sherkin House Ukrainian Centre. 'This was his last picture,' she tells the Irish Examiner. 'You can tell he was very outgoing. He had a lot of friends. It's impossible to live without fun.' She says while he fought bravely for his country, and his comrades, his legacy is little comfort. 'I just want him to be alive.' Meanwhile, Natalia Fomina from Kyiv, who is also a resident at the facility, said she longs for the day she can be reunited with her husband. Yuri is currently living in a centre in Limerick after leaving his role as an officer in the military in Ukraine due to health issues. Natalia is now appealing to officials so the couple can reside in the same accommodation centre. 'We lived together for 30 years. He has a problem with his health and I would feel much better to have him with me. He needs treatment. It's quite difficult. I want to be able to look after him. Our daughter Yullia chose to stay in Ukraine so it's just us in Ireland.' Natalia Fomina from Kyiv at the 'We Stand With Ukraine' event in Sherkin House Ukrainian Centre to commemorate those who passed away in the war. Picture: Sorcha Sweeney Ukrainian Ambassador to Ireland, Larysa Gerasko, said Ukraine is still in dire need of support. 'We are still fighting and we still need support to end this war and end these killings of civilians,' she said. 'It's really very important to be vocal and to encourage your politicians to do more for Ukraine.' Fiona Corcoran, who was joined at the event by Cork county mayor Cllr Joe Carroll, praised the residents of Sherkin Island for taking their Ukrainian neighbours to their hearts. 'Each day the needs grow greater,' she said of the Ukrainian people. 'Until we can see an end to the fighting, thousands of vulnerable families will continue to live in appalling conditions and fear what tomorrow may bring. Today we stand in solidarity with our Ukrainian brothers and sisters who had homes, security and normal lives until just over three years ago.' To support We Stand With Ukraine and the Greater Chernobyl Cause click here.
Saudi Gazette
29-05-2025
- Politics
- Saudi Gazette
The terrifying new weapon changing the war in Ukraine
Yogita Limaye RODYNSKE — An acrid smell hangs over the town of Rodynske. A couple of minutes after we drive into the city we see where it's coming from. A 250kg glide bomb has ripped through the town's main administrative building, and taken down three residential blocks. We're visiting a day after the bomb struck, but parts of the wreckage are still smoking. From the edges of the town we hear the sound of artillery fire, and of gunshots – Ukrainian soldiers shooting down drones. Rodynske is about 15km (9 miles) north of the embattled city of Pokrovsk. Russia has been trying to capture it from the south since the autumn of last year, but Ukrainian forces have so far managed to stop Russian soldiers from marching in. So Russia has changed tactics, moving instead to encircle the city, cutting off supply routes. In the past two weeks, as hectic diplomatic efforts to bring about a ceasefire in Ukraine have failed, Russia has intensified its push, making its most significant advances since January. We find proof of that in Rodynske. Within minutes of us arriving in town, we hear a Russian drone above us. Our team runs to the closest cover available – a tree. We press up against it so the drone won't see us. Then there's the sound of a loud explosion – it's a second drone making impact nearby. The drone above us is still hovering. For a few more minutes, we hear the terrifying whirring sound of what's become the deadliest weapon of this war. When we can't hear it any more we take the chance to run to hard cover in an abandoned building 100ft away. From the shelter, we hear the drone again. It's possible it returned after seeing our movement. That Rodynske is being swarmed by Russian drones is evidence that the attacks are coming from positions much closer than known Russian positions to the south of Pokrovsk. They were most likely coming from newly captured territory on a key road running from the east of Pokrovsk to Kostyantynivka. After half an hour of waiting in the shelter, when we can't hear the drone anymore, we move quickly to our car parked under tree cover, and speed out of Rodynske. By the side of the highway we see smoke billowing and something burning – it's most likely a downed drone. We drive to Bilytske, further away from the frontline. We see a row of houses destroyed by a missile strike overnight. One of them was Svitlana's home. "It's getting worse and worse. Earlier, we could hear distant explosions, they were far away. But now our town is getting targeted – we're experiencing it ourselves," says the 61-year-old, as she picks up a few belongings from the wreckage of her home. Luckily Svitlana wasn't at home when the attack occurred. "Go into the center of the town, you'll see so much that is destroyed there. And the bakery and zoo have been destroyed too," she says. At a safehouse just out of reach of drones, we meet soldiers of the artillery unit of the 5th Assault Brigade. "You can feel the intensity of Russian assaults increasing. Rockets, mortars, drones, they're using everything they have to cut off supply routes going into the city," says Serhii. His unit has been waiting for three days to deploy to their positions, waiting for cloud cover or high-speed winds to give them protection from drones. In an ever-evolving conflict, soldiers have had to rapidly adapt to new threats posed by changing technology. And the latest threat comes from fiber-optic drones. A spool of tens of kilometers of cable is fitted to the bottom of a drone and the physical fiber optic cord is attached to the controller held by the pilot. "The video and control signal is transmitted to and from the drone through the cable, not through radio frequencies. This means it can't be jammed by electronic interceptors," says a soldier with the call sign Moderator, a drone engineer with the 68th Jaeger Brigade. When drones began to be used in this war in a big way, both militaries fitted their vehicles with electronic warfare systems, which could neutralise drones. That protection has evaporated with the arrival of fibre optic drones, and in the deployment of these devices, Russia currently has the edge. Ukraine is trying to ramp up production. "Russia started using fibre optic drones much before us, while we were still testing them. These drones can be used in places where we have to go lower than usual drones. We can even enter houses and look for targets inside," says Venia, a drone pilot with the 68th Jaeger Brigade. "We've started joking that maybe we should carry scissors to cut the cord," says Serhii, the artilleryman. Fibre optic drones do have drawbacks – they are slower and the cable could get entangled in trees. But at the moment, their widespread use by Russia means that transporting soldiers to and from their positions can often be deadlier than the battlefield itself. "When you enter a position, you don't know whether you've been spotted or not. And if you have been spotted, then you may already be living the last hours of your life," says Oles, Chief Sergeant of the reconnaissance unit of the 5th Assault Brigade. This threat means that soldiers are spending longer and longer in their positions. Oles and his men are in the infantry, serving in the trenches right at the very front of Ukraine's defense. It's rare for journalists these days to speak to infantrymen, as it's become too risky to go to these trenches. We meet Oles and Maksym in a rural home converted into a makeshift base, where the soldiers come to rest when they're not on deployment. "The longest I spent at the position was 31 days, but I do know guys who have spent 90 and even 120 days there. Back before the drones arrived, the rotations could have been between 3 or 7 days at the position," says Maksym. "War is blood, death, wet mud and a chill that spreads from head to toe. And this is how you spend every day. I remember one instance when we didn't sleep for three days, alert every minute. The Russians kept coming at us wave after wave. Even a minor lapse would have meant we were dead." Oles says Russia's infantry has changed its tactics. "Earlier they attacked in groups. Now they only send one or two people at times. They also use motorcycles and in a few instances, quad bikes. Sometimes they slip through." What this means is that the front lines in some parts are no longer conventional lines with the Ukrainians on one side and the Russians on the other, but more like pieces on a chessboard during play, where positions can be intertwined. This also makes it harder to see advances made by either side. Despite Russia's recent gains, it will not be quick or easy for it to take the whole of the Donetsk region, where Pokrovsk lies. Ukraine has pushed back hard, but it needs a steady supply of weapons and ammunition to sustain the fight. And as the war enters a fourth summer, Ukraine's manpower issues against a much bigger Russian army are also evident. Most of the soldiers we meet joined the military after the war began. They've had a few months of training, but have had to learn a lot on the job in the middle of a raging war. Maksym worked for a drinks company before he joined the military. I asked how his family copes with his job. "It's hard, it's really hard. My family really supports me. But I have a two-year-old son, and I don't get to see him much. I do video call him though, so everything is as fine as it could be under the circumstances," he trails off, eyes welling up with tears. Maksym is a soldier fighting for his country, but he's also just a father missing his two-year-old boy. — BBC
Saudi Gazette
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Saudi Gazette
Ukraine war refugees complain of abuse in Poland
WARSAW — Svitlana says her daughter loved her school in Poland. "Even when we moved to another area, she didn't want to change schools," says the 31-year-old Ukrainian mother. "She liked it so much. There was no bullying." Now she says the atmosphere at the school – and in Poland overall – has changed. "Two weeks ago, she came home and said "One boy said to me today, 'Go back to Ukraine'." Svitlana was astonished. She is one of dozens of Ukrainians living in Poland who have told the BBC that anti-Ukrainian sentiment has risen considerably in recent months. Many described experiencing abuse on public transport, bullying in schools and xenophobic material online.A polarising presidential election campaign has added to the tension, with the first round of voting taking place on day after Svitlana's daughter was told to go back to Ukraine, the abuse became even worse."Girls from the class above started complaining about her speaking Ukrainian. Then they pretended to fall to the ground shouting 'Missile! Get down!' and laughing," Svitlana says. "She came home crying."A Russian missile had slammed into Svitlana's hometown in Ukraine days before, killing scores of civilians, including children. Her daughter was – not her real name did not want to be identified as she fears reprisals. She showed us screenshots of messages with school staff where she complains about her daughter's said she had noticed attitudes changing towards Ukrainians in other places, too: "At work, many people have been saying Ukrainians come here and behave badly. And my Ukrainian friends say they want to go home because Polish people don't accept us. It's frightening to live here now."According to government statistics, at least 2.5 million Ukrainians live in Poland, comprising almost 7% of the total population of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, there was an outpouring of compassion from Poles. "It was amazing. Every day people were calling, asking, 'How can we help?'" says activist Natalia Panchenko, head of the Warsaw-based 'Stand with Ukraine' Foundation."Some of them organized humanitarian convoys or brought refugees here. They gave their houses, food, everything they have – and their hearts, too."Three years later, Natalia says she believes the majority of Poles still support Ukraine. But some don't – and her organization has noticed an upsurge of anti-Ukrainian online abuse that began several months ago."Then it started to come to real life," she says. "Recently, we have more and more of these kinds of situations... xenophobic [abuse] of people working in shops or hotels just because they speak with a Ukrainian accent."Natalia says that many Ukrainian refugees are traumatised. "These groups of women and children are in Poland because of the war, very often their relatives are on the front line, in captivity or dead... and this is the group of people being targeted."Research suggests that Poland's public opinion of Ukrainians is indeed worsening. According to a March 2025 poll by the respected CBOS Centre, just 50% of Poles are in favour of accepting Ukrainian refugees, a fall of seven percentage points in four months. Two years ago, the figure was 81%.Around a million Ukrainians are officially registered as having arrived after the start of the full-scale invasion. Poland spends 4.2% of its GDP on Ukrainian has become a hot-button political issue in Poland's crucial presidential election populist Slawomir Mentzen, currently polling third, is virulently anti-Ukrainian and supports an "agreement" with Russia's Vladimir second place is conservative Karol Nawrocki, who opposes EU and Nato membership for Ukraine and financial assistance for refugees, but supports the war most pro-Ukraine candidate is front-runner Rafal Trzaskowski from Prime Minister Donald Tusk's coalition, although even he has promised a reduction in social welfare for has refrained from espousing his pro-Ukrainian credentials in order to attract the centrist vote in the elections, says political analyst Marcin Zaborowski."He's responding to the change in public attitudes. The initial enthusiasm for supporting war victims is disappearing, negative sentiments are taking over and it's not an entirely comfortable issue for him."Another far-right candidate, Grzegorz Braun, is under investigation by police for tearing down a Ukrainian flag from a city hall building during an election rally in April. Braun, who is polling at just 3%, regularly fulminates against what he calls the "Ukrainisation of Poland".Last week, the Polish government warned of an "unprecedented attempt" by Russia to interfere in the Polish elections by spreading "false information among Polish citizens online". Moscow denies all allegations of election Marek, who runs an NGO that monitors disinformation and propaganda in Poland, offers some examples of the anti-Ukraine material being circulated on social media."The main narratives are that Ukrainians are stealing money from the Polish budget, that Ukrainians do not respect us, that they want to rob and kill us and are responsible for the war," he says."This information starts in Russian-speaking Telegram channels, and, after that, we see the same photos and the same text just translated by Google Translate. And they are pushing [the material] into the Polish infosphere."Marek links such disinformation directly with the increase in anti-Ukraine sentiment in Poland, and says an increasing number of Poles are becoming influenced by propaganda."But we will only see the effect after the election — what percentage of Poles want to vote for openly pro-Russian candidates." — BBC
