Titled Ukrainian fencer Olga Harlan reacted emotionally to the decision of the International Fencing Federation (FIE) 

Russians and Belarusians to international competitions.

The Olympic champion, multiple winner of the world and European championships harshly criticized the FIE's position on her Instagram page.

"Disappointment. Anger. Injustice. This is what I feel right now. The decision of the International Fencing Federation congress to allow Russians and Belarusians to compete in all competitions during a brutal war in my homeland of Ukraine makes me feel devastated inside. It makes me believe that there is no better and fairer world. We had and still have the support of those who understand what is right and what is wrong, where is the true light and where is the darkness. And we are deeply grateful to all our friends and people who stay with us during this difficult time .

But, unfortunately, some people cannot put themselves in our shoes.

They just don't want to, because it hurts them and it's unnecessary.

Because they are looking for false opinions: "Athletes are not responsible", "Sport is out of politics", "We are all a family and should live peacefully" for their selfish purposes.

This thought is destroyed the moment bombs fall on your home, your land, when you have to live under bombs, when you have to go to the front line and protect your family from killers who want to destroy your life and many other things that didn't even occur in your nightmares.

These people will never understand until it happens to them.

We will always be for justice.

We will always be strong.

Because we know the truth.

And someday there will be light and victory.

And maybe one day I will believe in a better world again.

Glory to Ukraine!" Harlan wrote.

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A post shared by Kharlan Olga (@olgakharlan)

In response to the FIE's verdict on the return of representatives of the aggressor countries to the competition, the Ukrainian Fencing Federation announced the immediate convening of a meeting of the Presidium to make a decision on the reaction of our state and its possible appeal.

The decision to return fencers from the Russian Federation and Belarus to international competitions will take effect in the second half of April.

Thus, athletes from the aggressor countries will be represented at the European and World Championships in 2023, as well as in the qualification for the 2024 Olympics in Paris.

We will remind you that in March 2022, Russian and Belarusian fencers were suspended from international competitions due to the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation.

In November, the International Fencing Federation 

 of athletes from the aggressor countries.

Read also:

Great Britain called on the sponsors of the Olympics to prevent the participation of Russians and Belarusians in the 2024 Olympics

Harlan won silver at the Fencing World Cup in Athens

Racists destroyed the college of physical education in Mykolaiv, where the Olympic champion Harlan studied (photo)