Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia - January 19, 2023 Katie Volynets of the U.S. celebrates winning her second round match against Russia's Veronika Kudermetova REUTERS/Hannah Mckay
Katie Volynets was born in the United States after her family emigrated from Ukraine during the 1990s
Katie Volynets, a first-generation American with family ties to Ukraine, experienced the aftermath of a missile strike in Kryvyi Rih on July 31. The attack targeted a 9-story residential building, resulting in severe damage to the 4th – 9th floors, rendering them uninhabitable.
The neighboring apartments also suffered destruction, causing the loss of homes and possessions. Tragically, 6 individuals, including a 10-year-old child, lost their lives, while around 80 people, including 8 children, sustained injuries.
Despite being fortunate to escape the attack, Katie’s cousin suffered shrapnel wounds to various parts of his body and a concussion. This incident left all the affected individuals displaced and without their cherished belongings and essential documents. To aid those affected, Katie is raising funds to support her cousin and others impacted by the attack.
The donations will be sent to Ukraine, where her cousin will oversee their distribution to the building’s affected residents. Users on the internet are assisting in raising funds to alleviate their challenging circumstances.
Katie Volynets’ parents moved from Ukraine and settled in the suburban area of Walnut Creek in Northern California, where Katie was born. She grew up in a bilingual environment, being fluent in both Ukrainian and Russian. Even though her family still has relatives in Kyiv and Dnipropetrovsk, they embraced their new home.
Upon their move, the family received a tennis racquet, which led to her older brother playing tennis with their parents. Katie herself started getting involved in tennis at the age of 5. Despite her mother’s hope that she would share her love for swimming, Katie wasn’t interested and would sometimes pretend to be sick to avoid swimming practice.
Volynets, who often traveled to Ukraine during her childhood to spend time with cousins and grandparents, including a recent visit after Wimbledon 2021, mentioned that she continues to receive significant support from the country.
Her family primarily resides in Kyiv and Dnipropetrovsk, areas affected by Russian missile strikes due to Moscow’s invasion, referred to as a “special military operation”. Despite this situation, Volynets emphasized her intention to separate politics from her interactions with fellow athletes, focusing on maintaining professional relationships.
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