MOSCOW, April 6 Biathlete Dmitry Pidruchny criticized naturalized Russians playing for the Ukrainian national team , who left the country after the start of the special operation and did not publicly express their position. Pidruchny is the long-term leader of the national team, in the previous season he took 37th place in the World Cup, gaining 148 points. The Ukrainian became the world champion in the pursuit in 2019.
"Relatively naturalized athletes who have been competing under our flag for several years, but who have not shown their position from the very beginning, I hope you will never see you again at training camps, or in competitions. Since you left for Russia, then stay there,” Pidruchny said.
Ukrainian biathlete Kristina Dmitrenko said that naturalized Russian women left Ukraine immediately after the start of the special operation. She added that «most of the Ukrainian biathlon family will be against their return.»