Meet the Ukrainian MMA star fighting for troops in ongoing Russian war

05 April 2023 , 21:36

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PFL 3 at the Esports Stadium Arlington in Arlington, Texas, Friday, May 6, 2022. (Cooper Neill / PFL)

Olena Kolesnyk hopes to bring back the PFL world title to Ukrainian troops amid the ongoing Russian invasion in her native country.

Kolesnyk, 33, has the opportunity to win $1million as she competes in the PFL women's featherweight regular season, taking on UFC veteran Aspen Ladd in the opening round on Friday. The Ukrainian was born in Odessa, the city that was attacked by Russian drone strikes on Monday. Kolesnyk described the distressing scenes that are taking place in her home country, with some of her friends even sending her graphic videos from the streets.

"I speak with my family every day, because you never know when it's going to be the last day you speak to them. Russia keep attacking my country but right now they are just attacking in Bakhmut, where my friends are. They have sent me videos of attacks on local houses with dead bodies all around. The war has not stopped, people keep dying and it's a genocide of Ukrainian people," Kolesnyk told Sherdog.

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"Unfortunately, it doesn't look like things are getting better. It's easy to sit on the sofa and watch it on TV, but it's different when it's involving people who you love. My old university has been turned into dust, destroyed totally. We just pray and I hope that it will finish soon, I am so grateful for my friends and countryman who protect my family and country."

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Kolesnyk progressed to the semi-finals of last year's $1million tournament but was eliminated by Larissa Pacheco, who went on to win the world title. The Ukrainian slammed Russia's invasion of Crimea and said that whenever she is tired from training, she is perked up by thinking abut the hardships people in her native country are going through.

Olena Kolesnyk looks to bring a world title back to Ukraine (Professional Fighters League)

"We have not stepped forward to take Russia's territory and if you like history, you can check that it's not Russian territory even Crimea," she added. "They have not attacked military places, they have attacked local people during their sleep. My motivation for fighting is to speak about my country and PFL gives me the opportunity to share the real information that people don't see in the news.

"Bringing the belt to my country can give people hope to never give up no matter what. When I look at my countryman, even if I am really tired after training, you cannot give up. I need to go the gym again because these people protect my family. My mother and sister are still alive because of them."

Harry Davies