Ukrainian skater performs with red stain on shirt to draw attention to Russian aggression

Ukrainian figure skater Ivan Shmuratko finished 19th in the short program at the 2024 European Figure Skating Championships, his first performance in two years.

The athlete used a shirt with a red spot to symbolize all Ukrainians killed during Russia's war.

The 22-year-old Ukrainian athlete was the first to start performing in the free skate program.

Ivan explained that he had put the meaning of being between life and death into it. The red stain means a death of people from enemy missiles.

Shmuratko also explained the change in the arbitrary program by his desire to reach a wider, global level of perception.

Shmuratko showed the story of a child,  killed by a missile, and well as the father who continues to live despite his grief. In the long program, he was to show the further development of this story.

"There will be another program, a new story. The story of the child from my short program will be a continuation of her journey after her death, as she was killed by a missile," Shmuratko said in an exclusive commentary for Suspilne Sport after his performance.

Shmuratko received 140.70 points for his performance, the 12th best result in the free skate program.