MOSCOW, February 22, Robert Shilkovich. The Russian rhythmic gymnastics team from- due to the political situation, she refused to participate in the Kiev stage of the Grand Prix, said the president of the All-Russian Federation of Rhythmic Gymnastics, Irina Viner-Usmanova.
"In connection with the current situation between Russia and Ukraine, of course, today the Russian team in Kiev won’t go,” Viner-Usmanova said.
The competitions are scheduled for March 14-15. In recent days, the situation in the Donbass has escalated — Kiev has concentrated most of the army on the line of contact and regularly shells the militias, including with the use of prohibited technology. Due to the threat of Ukraine's invasion in the self-proclaimed republics, women, children and the elderly began to be evacuated to Russian regions. General mobilization has been announced. The day before, President Vladimir Putin signed decrees recognizing the independence of the DPR and LPR, and also instructed to ensure the maintenance of peace in the republics. As emphasized in the Russian Foreign Ministry, this decision was made on the basis of the provisions of the UN Charter.