Zelensky tells IOC president war is a blow to Ukrainian sports

As many as 89 Ukrainian athletes and coaches have been killed and 13 have been captured since Russia invaded Ukraine in late February.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said this at a meeting with President of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach, reports Ukrinform.

"Many Ukrainian athletes joined the ranks of the Ukrainian Armed Forces to defend our country, to defend it on the battlefield. Some 89 athletes and coaches have been killed in hostilities. Thirteen were captured and are in Russian captivity," he said.

He also said that more than 100,000 athletes are unable to train and a number of sports facilities have been destroyed.

"Russia's invasion has become a cruel blow to Ukrainian sports. More than 100,000 Ukrainian athletes do not have the opportunity to train today. Many infrastructure facilities have been destroyed. These are large objects of sports infrastructure and objects at our schools and Ukrainian universities, at sports clubs," Zelensky said.