Ukrainian Hockey Arena Destroyed - Allegedly by Russian Missile Strike, Federation Says (VIDEO)
According to a report from Reuters, a Ukrainian hockey arena in the country's Donetsk region was destroyed by a Russian missile attack on Monday, January 3rd. The arena was home to HC Donbass of the Ukrainian Hockey League, formerly of the KHL.
"So it is that since the start of the war, the Russian occupiers have destroyed five ice stadiums," the federation said on its Telegram channel, naming them as the Druzhba venue in Donetsk, arenas in Mariupol and Melitopol, the Ice Palace in Sievierodonetsk and now the Altair arena in Druzhkivka.
Video of the Aftermath
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba wrote a piercing statement in wake of the attack, calling on those who resist the country's pleas of barring Russian athletes from international contests.
"I invite all sports officials who want to allow Russian athletes to compete in international events because, as they say, 'politics should be kept out of sports', to visit the Altair ice arena in Druzhkivka ruined by Russia's 'politically neutral' shelling," Kuleba wrote.
Whether the Russian military is deliberately targeting Ukraine's sporting venues remains a 'War Room' secret, but one mightn't be totally off-base in suggesting that these attacks are carefully coordinated.
After all, the Russian high-command has a vested interest in the KHL and could see Ukraine's professional league as competition. Also, the cultural significance could be an angle as well, but for now we can only hope this conflict comes to a peaceful resolution as soon as possible.
Source: Reuters
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