Three Russian biathletes join Ukraine’s national team
Three Russian biathletes, Ekaterina Bekh, Anasitaia Rasskazova and Oksana Moskalenko will represent the national team of Ukraine,as stated on the website of the Biathlon Federation of Ukraine.
“These three girls were invited by the Belarussian Federation. They quit in Moscow and had a meeting with the Belarussian team, but something did not work out there and they called me. The girls’ parents are Ukrainian citizens. The documents to acquire citizenship are only now being processed, which is why they represent the Kyiv region but only in individual competition without bringing team points. We need such high-level athletes anyway, especially since we have a staff shortage in this age group,” said the head of organization, Volodymyr Brynzak.
The girls’ coach, Ilya Lopukhov also joined the Ukrainian national team. 20-year-old Rasskazova represented Russia at the stages of the Junior Cup IBU (International Biathlon Union) last season, and in 2016 and 2017, she participated in the World Junior Championships. 19-year-old Bekh and 18-year-old Moskalenko did not participate in the international competitions.