Kyrylo Marsak may have escaped the war in his homeland but it inevitably follows him, even as far as the Milano Ice Skating Arena. The figure skate, one of 46 Ukrainian athletes at the 2026 Winter Olympics, told DW it is “difficult mentally” to cope with the devastation wrought on his home city of Kherson since the Russian invasion began in 2022.

“What had meaning in my life, especially in Kherson, has been destroyed. The school where I went from first to eighth grade is destroyed to pieces and the skating rink is destroyed to pieces and my apartment is too — that bomb hit one floor below.”

That skating rink is where Marsak first discovered and developed the talent that would take him to the Olympics, where he is to compete in the men’s single event this week. But as well as places, it’s people that make elite athletes and the music for Marsak’s short program opener on Tuesday will be a reminder of his father’s role in his life.

“Fall on Me” by Italian father and son duo Andrea and Matteo Bocelli has become the way Marsak connects across thousands of kilometers to his father, Andriy, who is fighting on the front lines of the war.

Family separated but still close

The pair are only able to see each other in person once a year, at the Ukrainian national championships, but their bond endures.

“We have a really strong connection, me and my father. We are always thinking about each other and texting every night and every day. Just good morning. Good night. To make sure that we are both okay. And I can even feel this connection when I’m skating and when I’m on the ice,” he said.

“It’s exactly what I wanted to portray as well in my program, our connection. Even though we are not together, I can close my eyes and I see him everywhere.”

With Kherson under heavy fire in the early stages of the war, Kyrylo and his sister were separated from Andriy and their mother, Zoya, as the parents stayed at home and the children went north to Poland. From there, Kyrylo, then 17, and his sister went to Latvia where she stayed while Kyrylo took up a short-term offer at the Peurunka Skating Academy in Finland that turned in to a three-and-a-half year stay.

While in the Scandinavian country, fellow figure skater, Valtter Virtanen, has taken on a prominent role.

“In Finland he became like a mentor to me. He’s always giving me some tips and ways to improve just from his experience because he had so much more experience than I did. He always supports me and has done everything possible to help me achieve my goals.”

Kyrylo is, however, somewhat tight-lipped on exactly what those goals are in Milan.

“I want to just enjoy this atmosphere, get the maximum out of what I can, to show what I practice. I will not set any specific goals and scores or places. This would only making me anxious and nervous. So my goal is to enjoy this Olympic Games, enjoy the atmosphere and gain as much experience as I can.”

Russian competitor a problem for Marsak

One man who may stand in his way is Russian rival Petr Gummenik, who will skate under the Individual Neutral Athletes banner as one of 13 Russians and seven Belarussians who will compete over the course of the Games. With their countries banned, any potential individual competitors from those nations were declared ineligible if they were found to have actively supported the war in any way.

However a BBC investigation found that Gummenik has “recently worked with and been coached by Ilya Averbukh, who has been sanctioned by Ukraine. Averbukh has held the role of “Crimea’s ambassador for sport,” taken part in events in numerous occupied territories and staged performances for families of Russian soldiers.

Like most Ukrainians, Marsak does not believe Russians should be allowed to compete at the Olympics in any case.

“I think even under a neutral status, they should not be allowed because they are indirectly responsible for this war and most of them are supporting this war secretly,” he said, with particular reference to Gummenik.

Marsak believes the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has “not been paying attention” to such cases and is angry at comments by the new IOC President Kirsty Coventry on their re-admission ahead of the next Summer Games, in Los Angeles 2028.

Is IOC opening door for Russia?

While not directly referring to Russia, Coventry said earlier this month that “We understand politics and we know we don’t operate in a vacuum. But our game is sport. That means keeping sport a neutral ground. A place where every athlete can compete freely, without being held back by the politics or divisions of their governments.”

Marsak feels It would be particuarly offensive if they were allowed to compete under their national flag and their anthem.

“How can then say that the sport is out of the politics? They are representing their country. They are representing their flag. Well, this is directly the politics of it. Their country is currently the clear representative of terrorism.”

But, for now, Marsak wants to concentrate on his own country and his own performance.

“I feel really proud that I am going to represent my country. Our main goal is just to show our best and not pay attention to others,” he said. 

The one exception, who will surely have at least a slither of his attention on the ice, is his dad.

Edited by: Chuck Penfold