Vyacheskav Kalinichenko made the remark in an interview with Polish state news agency PAP on Monday.
The Kyiv-born coach has long been based in Poland, working with Polish pole vaulters, including Monika Pyrek, Piotr Lisek and Paweł Wojciechowski.
Now coaching his compatriots, Kalinichenko said Team Ukraine would not have been able to compete in the world championships in the United States without help from the World Athletics federation.
“These 27 people who are here, athletes, coaches and the medical team, all have the support of the world federation," he said. "They went to training camps in Poland, Finland, Portugal and Germany.”
Ukrainian sports infrastructure destroyed by Russia
With the Kremlin’s war on Ukraine raging since February 24, local sports facilities have been demolished by the invading Russian forces.
“The Russians say they are only seeking to destroy ammunition dumps, weapons depots and other military targets, but the opposite is true: They are striking sports halls, stadiums and churches,” Kalinichenko said.
‘We’ll fight for medals’
“It’s hard, but we’ll fight for medals,” he vowed, adding that it is his dream to hear the Ukrainian national anthem ring out at the Hayward Field stadium in Eugene.
“I am certain that we’ll hear the Ukrainian anthem twice,” he said, noting that Yaroslava Mahuchikh was among the favourites to claim gold in the women’s high jump.
‘The best ambassadors' for Ukraine
According to Kalinichenko, talented Ukrainian athletes such as Mahuchikh or long jumper and triple jumper Maryna Bekh-Romanchuk, "are now the best ambassadors" for war-torn Ukraine.
Maryna Bekh-Romanchuk. Photo: EPA/Robert Ghement
“Everyone at the Eugene university campus is greeting them, offering words of support and affection in the face of the Russian invasion,” he said.
Polish-Ukrainian brotherhood
Kalinichenko also said he welcomed "the idea of Polish-Ukrainian brotherhood" emerging in the wake of Russia’s attack on Ukraine.
“Since day one of the invasion, it has been clear who is our brother and who is our enemy,” he added.
The World Athletics Championships in Eugene run until July 24.
Tuesday is day 146 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
(pm/gs)
Source: PAP