Ukrainian rower Zhalinska fled to Russia, stating that she is a "Russian"

The rower Larysa Zhalinska, who served in the National Guard of Ukraine, left Ukraine on a tourist visa and moved to Russia.

In an interview with Russian propagandists from RT, she stated that "she is Russian" and also explained how she reached Moscow.

"Today, many call my actions an escape to Russia, but I wouldn’t consider it an escape. I would call it a return to the homeland, to the historical homeland. I am Russian by nationality, my hometown is the city of Prymorsk in the Zaporizhzhya region of the Russian Federation, I have always spoken Russian.

It benefited me that starting from the spring of 2024, female military personnel began to be granted leave with the possibility of traveling abroad, including on tourist visas. Therefore, I obtained a tourist visa to the Czech Republic. I also took extra precautions by issuing a second international passport, without informing my military unit.

It was with this passport that I later crossed the border. Earlier, with the help of Telegram channels and friends from Russia, I found carriers who transport from Lviv to Poland and there help through special chats to find carriers who cross the Polish-Belarusian border. Also, with the help of friends from Russia, a ticket was purchased for the Minsk-Moscow flight," Zhalinska explained.

Zhalinska has repeatedly become a champion of Ukraine in academic rowing, winning two bronze and one silver medal at the last Ukrainian championship in 2024, and in 2023 she won four gold medals.