US Open star shares horrifying images of 'destroyed apartment' after Russian missile strike

Joseph McBride Sun, September 13, 2026 at 2:17 AM UTC

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Dayana Yastremska's apartment was destroyed in a missile strike -Credit:@dayana_yastremskay / Instagram

Ukrainian tennis star Dayana Yastremska has shared the aftermath of a Russian missile strike that destroyed her apartment days after she competed at the US Open.

Yastremska claimed that only a towel from Roland Garros survived the strike and shared videos and photos of the horrifying scenes. Ukrainian tennis stars have used the Grand Slam stage to raise awareness for the ongoing war, including a powerful message sent at the Australian Open earlier this year.

The WTA and ATP continue to hide Russian and Belarusian flags next to players representing those nations, including Aryna Sabalenka, who would compete in the US Open final. Later, Sabalenka lost the final and then mangled her racket so badly that ESPN zoomed in on it.

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However, just hours before Sabalenka faced Elena Rybakina, Yastremska shared the tragic news.

"Tonight. This is what the 'Russian world' looks like, A direct hit by a Kalibr cruise missile," Yastremska wrote on Instagram. She shared photos of the destruction, with a huge explosion and flames in the apartment complex, and debris coating the streets outside.

"A Russian missile destroyed our apartment in Odesa," Yastremska continued. "The only thing that survived was a Roland Garros @rolandgarros towel. SYMBOLIC.

"A piece of world tennis survived a Russian missile. Our home did not. @wta @itf_reviews Look at these images through our eyes. This is the true meaning of your 'neutrality' — from the Ukrainian side of the court."

Yastremska faced Lucrezia Stefanini in the first round of the US Open this year, but lost in three sets to the Italian. Yastremska has only enjoyed one deep run at a Grand Slam, reaching the Australian Open semifinals in 2024.

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The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine has spilled over into the tennis world, with many talented players from each respective nation. Since 2022, several Ukrainian tennis players have refused to shake their opponents' hands when facing a Russian opponent.

Marta Kostyuk also made a huge statement by refusing to shake the hand of Belarusian opponent Victoria Azarenka after their second-round match at the US Open in September 2022. The trend continued at the US Open this year.

• Aryna Sabalenka fights back tears as US Open speech is 'last thing she wants to do'

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Elina Svitolina snubbed her Russian opponent, Anna Kalinskaya, after the upset defeat and has been vocal about her stance in recent years. Svitolina even clashed with Sabalenka, the World No. 1 for 99 weeks.

Dayana Yastremska played at the US Open less than two weeks ago -Credit:2026 United States Tennis Association

Svitolina warned all Russian and Belarusian players during press conferences that she would not shake their hands. At the 2023 French Open, Sabalenka stood by the net after winning the match, and Svitolina was booed by the crowd for ignoring her.

"I don't know, to be fair, what she was waiting for, because my statements were clear enough about the handshake." Svitolina then accused Sabalenka of purposely standing by the net to agitate the situation.

"My initial reaction, was like, what are you doing? Because, in all my press conferences, I made my position clear. Maybe she's not on social media during the tournaments, but it is pretty clear.

"I made multiple statements that I'm not shaking hands, and she played obviously Marta [Kostyuk] as well in the first round. So it's quite simple."

Meanwhile, Sabalenka responded as fans called out her "greatest weakness" in the US Open final.

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Source: “AOL Breaking”