A Russian woman carried Ukraine's nameplate at the Olympic Games opening ceremony.
For spectators, Anastasia Kucherova, a Russian woman living in Milan, was an anonymous volunteer, but for Anastasia herself, this step was a conscious protest against the war. AP reports about her.
Photo: AP Photo / Petr David Josek
The story of Anastasia Kucherova — a Russian woman who has lived in Milan for 14 years and works as an architect — became one of the symbols of the opening of the Winter Olympic Games. Hidden behind the high collar of a silver puffer jacket and dark glasses, she entered the stadium, carrying a sign with the inscription «Ukraine» in front of her.
Initially, the organizers planned to assign countries to volunteers randomly, however, the choreographer allowed preferences to be chosen, and Kucherova asked to be entrusted specifically with the Ukrainian delegation.
Before entering the arena, Anastasia found herself next to five Ukrainian athletes, among whom were figure skater Kyrylo Marsak and speed skater Yelyzaveta Sydorko. The parents of both athletes are now fighting on the front lines.
Photo: AP Photo / Andrea Rosa
Ukrainians immediately recognized Kucherova as Russian by her accent when she spoke to them. Anastasia herself admits that at that moment she felt immense guilt and understood: these people have every right to hate any Russian. However, she considered it important to show them that not all Russians think alike.
Immediately before entering the stadium, she looked back — she didn't know what to say to them. «But I just said that the entire stadium would greet them with a standing ovation». Ukrainians reacted skeptically to this, she noted.
When the cheers erupted, Kucherova says, she felt as if the entire stadium «recognized their independence, recognized their will for freedom, their courage to make this entire journey to the Olympics». She cried behind her glasses.
Photo: AP Photo / Andrea Rosa
Later, she noted that this brief meeting at the stadium became for her a sign of a deep connection between peoples that could continue to live on, were it not for the aggression.
Kucherova also carried a sign for another delegation — Denmark, which also received thunderous applause for that nation's resistance to US threats to seize Greenland.
«Yes, it's a coincidence, but I thought about it», — Kucherova told the agency.
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